Philosophy Dictionary of ArgumentsHome
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| Freedom: Freedom is the ability to live one's life without constraints, according to one's own values and beliefs. See also Liberty, Community, State, Governance, Society, Individuals, Democracy._____________Annotation: The above characterizations of concepts are neither definitions nor exhausting presentations of problems related to them. Instead, they are intended to give a short introduction to the contributions below. – Lexicon of Arguments. | |||
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Leopold von Ranke on Freedom - Dictionary of Arguments
Gadamer I 207 Freedom/Necessity/History/Ranke/Gadamer: Teleology [of history] is not evident from the philosophical concept. It does not make world history an a priori system, in which the actors are placed as if in an unconsciously controlling mechanism. Cf. >Universal History/Ranke, >History/Historism. It is rather compatible with the freedom of action. Ranke can almost say that the constructive elements of the historical I 208 interrelation are scenes of freedom(1). This turn of phrase means that in the infinite web of events there are certain prominent appearances in which the historical decisions are concentrated, as it were. It is true that decisions are made everywhere where people act out of freedom, but that something is really decided with such a decision, i.e. that a decision makes history and only reveals its full and lasting significance in its effect, is the distinction of truly historical moments. They give the historical interrelation its articulation. We call such moments in which free action becomes historically decisive, epoch-making moments or even crises, and the individuals whose actions become so decisive "world-historical individuals" with Hegel. Ranke calls them "original minds who independently intervene in the struggle of ideas and world powers, bringing together the most powerful of these on which the future is based". Gadamer: This is mind from the mind of Hegel. Freedom/Interrelation of History/Ranke: "Let us admit that history can never have the unity of a philosophical system; but without inner interrelation it is not. Before us we see a series of successive interdependent events. When I say "interdependent", of course, I do not mean by absolute necessity. The great thing is rather that human freedom is claimed everywhere: history follows the scenes of freedom; that is its greatest attraction. But freedom is joined with power, and original power; without this power, it ceases in world events and in the field of ideas. At any moment something new can begin again, which can only be traced back to the first and common source of all human activity; nothing is there entirely for the sake of the other; neither is entirely absorbed in the other's reality. But there is also a deep and intimate connection, from which no one is completely independent, which penetrates into everything. Necessity/Ranke: There is a necessity for freedom on the side. It lies in the already formed, not to be overthrown again, which is the basis of all newly ascended activity. What has become constitutes the interrelation with what is becoming. But even this interrelation itself is nothing arbitrarily assumed, but in a certain way, so and so, it was not different. It is also an object of knowledge. A longer series of events - one after the other and Gadamer I 209 side by side - in such a way linked together, form a century, an epoch..."(2). >History, >Historiography. 1. Ranke, Weltgeschichte IX, S. XIV. 2. a.a.O. S. XIIIf._____________Explanation of symbols: Roman numerals indicate the source, arabic numerals indicate the page number. The corresponding books are indicated on the right hand side. ((s)…): Comment by the sender of the contribution. Translations: Dictionary of Arguments The note [Concept/Author], [Author1]Vs[Author2] or [Author]Vs[term] resp. "problem:"/"solution:", "old:"/"new:" and "thesis:" is an addition from the Dictionary of Arguments. If a German edition is specified, the page numbers refer to this edition. |
Ranke, Leopold von Gadamer I Hans-Georg Gadamer Wahrheit und Methode. Grundzüge einer philosophischen Hermeneutik 7. durchgesehene Auflage Tübingen 1960/2010 Gadamer II H. G. Gadamer The Relevance of the Beautiful, London 1986 German Edition: Die Aktualität des Schönen: Kunst als Spiel, Symbol und Fest Stuttgart 1977 |
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Ed. Martin Schulz, access date 2024-04-27