LUTHER, HERDER, AND RANKE: THE REFORMATION'S IMPACT ON GERMAN IDEALIST HISTORIOGRAPHY

The influence of Martin Luther on the Idealist philosophy and historical writing of Johann Gottfried Herder and Leopold Ranke is part of a broader inquiry into the significant impact of the Protestant Reformation on the modern Western world. Herder and Ranke, whose work in historical research and writing spanned a period from the later eighteenth century to the close of the nineteenth century, represented an Idealist generation which sought a new meaning in human history to replace the view of the Enlightenment.;Primary sources include the English translation of the Weimar Edition of Luther's Works, the Suphan Edition of Herder's Works, and the Leipzig Edition of Ranke's Works. Secondary materials include works on the influence of Luther, and general works on the Idealist generation, the German intellectual tradition, and biographies of Luther, Herder, and Ranke.;An overview of Luther's theology is given in Chapter I. Chapters II and III show how Herder and Ranke drew on Luther to formulate a new mode of history. Chapter IV draws together the conclusions, and shows how the work of Luther, Herder, and Ranke influenced the historical philosophy of the foremost twentieth century Idealist, Friedrich Meinecke.;Coming from Lutheran backgrounds and identifying closely with Luther, Herder and Ranke moved away from traditional theological dogma and toward the dynamic of human history. They adapted the major outlines of Luther's theology to history. Luther's dualism of the temporal and spiritual kingdoms became the real and ideal realms of history, which reflect the hand of God in human affairs. Luther's view of the organic character of human circumstances became the dynamic of history which moves behind the appearance of historical events. Luther's view of faith provided a way of perceiving the spiritual reality of history which reason alone could not discover. Luther's vision in historical form provided a spiritual power to Idealist history, enabling it to shape a new historical outlook of historicism. The Idealist stress on ideas in history, their general view of the whole human experience, and their contemplative approach to the past afford a perspective for contemporary historians who view history as a form of thought of universal significance to all people.