Discussion of the concepts "national character" and "cultural profile" in view of German history and culture.
(Presented at the Fift Annual Conference of the Western Association for German Studies, Seattle/Washington, 1981/10/9; In: Acta Humanistica 14/1. Humanities S. No. 11, 1984, 216-249)
Table of Contents
I
II
Bibliography
1. Literature on National Character, Cultural Profile, and Personality Theory in General
II Literature on German National Character and Cultural Profile
Objectives and Topics
The study aims to provide a methodological framework for sketching a German cultural profile by analyzing cultural traits and achievements rather than generalized behavioral phenotypes. It explores the tension between rational and irrational impulses within the German cultural tradition and addresses the validity of cultural generalizations in a scholarly context.
- Conceptualization of "cultural profiles" as a tool for understanding national characteristics.
- Application of psychological type theories (e.g., introvert/extrovert) to German civilization.
- Historical versus phenomenological approaches to analyzing cultural manifestations.
- The role of "inwardness" and dualism in shaping German literature and philosophy.
- Pragmatic use of generalizations and their limitations in the humanities.
Excerpt from the Book
German "Nationalcharakter" and Cultural Profile: Some Thoughts
"A German is a combination of murder and music,” someone said in a French film of the "nouvelle vogue." And although there may be some truth in this shortest of all characterizations I have found, this is not the kind of definition I am concerned with here. There is some truth in all descriptions - from Tacitus' via Giordano Bruno's, Madame de Stael's, Heine's, Nietzsche's, Eduard Wechsler's, Benedetto Croce's, Bernhard Shaw's, all the way to Carl Jacob Burckhardt's or Thomas Mann's. These descriptions, focusing more or less on "the German" as a generalized person, are sometimes amusing, but more often, depressing to read. For those amongst us, who either teach or study German civilization, they are not very useful. In such courses, we are not dealing with the phenotype of "the German," but rather with German cultural achievements that demand to be seen together and to be explained as convincingly as possible.
We are circumventing these problems here by looking only at cultural traits manifested in objective achievements. They can be examined by anyone. Even this kind of evidence is open to interpretation. But it is considerably less so than the analysis of human behavior.
Summary of Chapters
I: This chapter introduces the methodology for defining a cultural profile, arguing for the analysis of objective cultural achievements over subjective psychological phenotypes to avoid the pitfalls of generalizations.
II: This section applies the previously established concepts to the specific task of sketching a German cultural profile, identifying key themes such as the "introvert" personality type, the dominance of music and philosophy, and the prevalence of dualistic tensions in literature.
Bibliography: This section provides a comprehensive listing of interdisciplinary literature categorized into general studies on national character and specific works concerning the German cultural profile.
Keywords
Cultural Profile, National Character, German Civilization, Introversion, Phenomenology, Cultural Traits, Personality Theory, Dualism, Idealism, Psychoanalysis, Humanities, Generalization, Intellectual History.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental goal of this work?
The work aims to move away from subjective, often depressing definitions of "the German" toward a more scholarly analysis of German cultural achievements, using these as evidence to construct a "cultural profile."
What are the central themes discussed in the paper?
Key themes include the validity of national character concepts, the historical and phenomenological approaches to cultural analysis, and the recurring tension between rational and irrational personality strata in German intellectual history.
What is the primary scientific method utilized?
The author employs a pragmatic, holistic model that integrates phenomenological observations with historical perspectives, favoring cultural traits manifested in objective achievements over biological or racial determinants.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body outlines the concept of cultural profiles, applies this concept to German characteristics like the "introvert" style, discusses the role of dualism in literature, and analyzes the "organic" view of history and art.
Which keywords best characterize this research?
Important keywords include Cultural Profile, National Character, German Civilization, Introversion, Dualism, and Phenomenology.
Is this work meant to be a predictive tool?
No, the author explicitly states that cultural profiles should be retrospective and do not aim for predictive power, serving instead as ideal points of reference for comparative observations.
How does the author characterize the German literary hero?
The author frequently identifies a "schizothyme" or dissociated hero who stands at the midpoint between opposite female principles, reflecting a broader cultural tendency toward polarity and internal conflict.
How is the "heaviness" of German literature explained?
The author connects the perceived "heaviness" and complex syntax of German writing to the general lack of ease characteristic of an introverted personality, which manifests in a desire for comprehensive, system-building thought.
- Citation du texte
- Dr. Wolfgang Ruttkowski (Auteur), 1984, German 'National Character' and Cultural Profile: Some Thoughts, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/8104
