After Kant: The Romans, the Germans, and the Moderns in the History of Political Thought

Michael Sonenscher's book explores the origins of modern political thought by tracing three sets of arguments over history, morality, and freedom. He argues that Kant's question about comparing individual human lives to human history introduced a future-oriented dimension into discussions of prevailing norms, challenging their orientation toward the past. The book connects the genealogy of modern political ideologies to discussions of time, history, and values in France, Germany, Switzerland, and Britain during the period between the French and Industrial revolutions. It examines the enduring impact of this intellectual upheaval on the history and historiography of political thought.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 584 pages
Publication date: 11 July 2023
Publisher: Princeton University Press

Tracing the origins of modern political thought through three sets of arguments over history, morality, and freedom, this comprehensive work by Michael Sonenscher delves into the question raised by Immanuel Kant: how can we compare individual human lives to the entirety of human history? Kant's inquiry introduced a future-oriented dimension into existing discussions of prevailing norms, challenging their orientation toward the past. This reversal made Kant's question a bridge between three successive sets of arguments: between the supporters of the ancients and moderns, the classics and romantics, and the Romans and the Germans.

Sonenscher argues that the genealogy of modern political ideologies, from liberalism to nationalism to communism, can be connected to the resulting discussions of time, history, and values in France, Germany, Switzerland, and Britain during the period straddling the French and Industrial revolutions.

The core of this intellectual upheaval lies in the struggle to bridge the gap between individual lives and human history, a gap highlighted by Kant. After Kant, the book examines the enduring impact of this struggle on the history and historiography of political thought.

The first set of arguments revolves around the comparison between the ancients and moderns. The ancients, represented by figures such as Plato and Aristotle, were seen as defenders of traditional values and institutions. They believed in the importance of hierarchy, authority, and the rule of law. In contrast, the moderns, led by figures like John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, advocated for individual rights, freedom, and equality. They challenged the authority of the state and emphasized the importance of natural law and human nature.

The second set of arguments concerns the comparison between the classics and romantics. The classics, influenced by thinkers like Cicero and Virgil, emphasized the importance of tradition, culture, and the preservation of the past. They saw history as a narrative of progress, with each generation building upon the achievements of the previous one. The romantics, on the other hand, were more interested in the individual and the subjective experience. They emphasized the power of imagination, emotion, and the natural world and saw history as a series of ruptures and transformations.

The third set of arguments revolves around the comparison between the Romans and the Germans. The Romans, known for their rigid hierarchy, legalism, and military prowess, were seen as defenders of order and stability. They believed in the importance of hierarchy, discipline, and the rule of law. The Germans, influenced by thinkers like Kant and Hegel, were more interested in the individual and the universal. They emphasized the importance of reason, freedom, and the pursuit of knowledge.

Kant's question served as a catalyst for these discussions, challenging the prevailing norms and opening up new possibilities for thinking about politics and society. His emphasis on the future-oriented dimension of human history challenged the traditional focus on the past and emphasized the importance of considering the potential consequences of our actions.

The enduring impact of Kant's question can be seen in the development of modern political ideologies. The debates between the ancients and moderns, the classics and romantics, and the Romans and the Germans led to the formation of distinct political perspectives. Liberalism, for example, emerged as a response to the challenges posed by the moderns, advocating for individual rights, freedom, and equality. Nationalism, on the other hand, emerged as a response to the desire for cultural and national identity, often rooted in the romantic notion of the nation as a living organism. Communism, as a final example, emerged as a response to the failures of capitalism and the desire for a more equitable distribution of resources.

In conclusion, tracing the origins of modern political thought through three sets of arguments over history, morality, and freedom provides a rich and nuanced understanding of the development of political ideologies. Kant's question served as a bridge between these arguments, challenging the prevailing norms and opening up new possibilities for thinking about politics and society. The enduring impact of Kant's question can be seen in the development of modern political ideologies, which continue to shape our world today.

Weight: 926g
Dimension: 159 x 235 x 40 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780691245638