The Introduction by Spengler, to his own work runs a mere 7 pages [ix-xvi] but is its own distinct work.
Spengler has a clear ancient voice uncluttered with much of what those in our time require to achieve the necessary comfort level in our bath of blended ideas. In his retrospective introduction Spengler stakes out what he perceives as human ground, against the zombie hordes of materialism and globalism, which, ironically, 78 years later, is the key point made by commentators on the dissident right; that our collective soul has been sold out from under us and that if we do not recover it our individual souls are doomed.
Spengler’s Pillars of Humanity
Spengler was writing for Germany, a young revolutionary nation that had not yet been sucked into the global system. His main theme was that if his nation must be sucked in it should seek to do so as ‘a subject of history’ rather than as ‘an object of history’. In other words, if the only thing left is, let’s say, drugs, then, by all means be the drug dealer, not the drug addict.
1. ‘Greatness and happiness are incompatible.’
2. Those who merely seek comfort ‘do not deserve to exist.’
3. The necessary man of action is necessarily ‘limited in his vision.’
4. True valuation of an event or events is only possible when ‘it has become the remote past.’
5. ‘Enthusiasm is out of keeping with goals that lie generations ahead.’
6. A people may only reach potential under the leadership the ‘moral self discipline of a ruling class.’
7. ‘Danger is life itself.’
8. ‘What is true cannot be made null by an event.’
9. ‘Fate’ ‘will submerge us without mercy.’
10. That attack holds a greater promise of victory than defense.
11. Nations eventually reach a state of rigidity when they become incapable of dynamic action.
Spengler wrote a handbook for the national leaders of his time and place, leaders who had not yet been selected, and who ignored much of what he had to say. His introduction could be used as a guide for people in revolutionary circumstances in many times and places.
A lack of adherence to number 5 by American business, military and political leaders in contrast to their Asian and Islamic adversaries, is, in this reader’s opinion, the key peril facing the West.
Goddamn these are great! You have sold me on this guy.
I have found myself impressed to an unexpected degree with the clear views of Oswald Spengler, particularly in light of his emotional investment in the subject.
Three more segments will follow in upcoming weeks.
Thanks for your interest Sir.
Interesting. Better to be the subject rather than the object, eh? It reminds me of the advice I was given by a maternal great uncle, also a German academic. He said to me: "Jeremy, you must esk yourself vat do you vont to be, a hammer or a nail?" Well Uncle was right about that; you're going to be either one or the other, aren't you? Other people won't necessarily leave you alone just because you want to be.
“Intolerance may not promote progress but it can promote survival. An intolerant Islamic world may outlast the Western world that seems ready to tolerate anything, including the undermining of its own fundamental values and threats to its continued existence. “ - Thomas Sowell, 22 March, 2011
“Thou must (in commanding and winning, or serving and losing, suffering or triumphing) be either anvil or hammer.” - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe