The Analysis Of Herder’s Cultural Nationalism

Germany is the birthplace of the earliest cultural nationalism, and the mostimportant representative of modern nationalism of Western Europe. German culturalnationalism is the original form of cultural nationalism, the trend of thought of Germancultural nationalism is affected by Herder’s cultural nationalism thought. So, the researchof Herder’s cultural nationalism thought is of great importance to solve the trouble thatcontemporary theories and practice of cultural nationalism is facing. On the basis ofGerman political, economic, social and cultural backgrounds of18th century, thisdissertation focuses on the Herder’s cultural nationalism thought, and uses the methods ofliterature research, historical research, interdisciplinary research to explore the sourceof Herder’s cultural nationalism thought, sum up the main content of his culturalnationalism thought, and analyze the main effect of Herder’s cultural nationalismthought.This dissertation mainly includes three parts: the first part mainly introducesHerder’s life and historical background, expounds the political, economic, social andcultural backgrounds of his cultural nationalism thought, and analyzes he influence thatthose backgrounds make to Herder; the second part summarizes the main content ofHerder’s cultural nationalism: opposes pure reason, attaches great importance to thenational language, pays attention to personality and national culture, advocates andcarries forward the national culture and national spirit, and makes the center and themeof Herder’s cultural nationalism clear; the third part analyzes the far-reaching effects ofHerder’s culture nationalism：the effect to German national movement, the effect toSlavic countries, Finland, Finland, Norway and other countries, and the effect to thechinese intellectuals of the beginning of twentieth century.