The Chain Of Nature And History:the Idea Of Continuity In Herder's Philosophy Of History

One of the purpose of the philosophy of history in Herder`s mature period is to seek the unity between Nature and human history,and this can be seen as the nature law of Enlightenment reflected in his thought;meanwhile,he give the diversity to all the individual as a personal unit.In the light of unity and diversity,each individual possess a dual identity of the diversity of individual and unity of individual.Similarly happened in the achievement of each individuals` being:the perfection in itself and the imperfection in the whole process of nature.But why the union of unity and diversity is possible,how can it possible?The author attempt to show,the idea of continuity as a principle was the result of reconcile the tension between unity and diversity,while the principle of continuity has the empirical basic of nature and history,thus the idea of continuity has two significance for Herder`s philosophy of history.Firstly,in the various Nature,the great chain of being ensures the succession(continuity)between natural objects and,human beings,which are of all things primate.And in the history of mankind,the inherited tradition realizes the continuation of history,by which each people and individual as the products of their unique history achieved their identity.Secondly,since there is a continuation of history of mankind,the reason,as the nature of man,and the language,the mark of reason,were two important clues in understanding both human history and the philosophy of history.Understanding the course of Herder`s thought,especially the communications and debates with Kant,who had been Herder`s teacher for a time,gives us a pointcut to learn above-mentioned cognition and breaking into the context of Herder.Moreover,we might have a rethink about the historical continuity with the concerns of present,to understand Herder and ourselves.