Chapter III
Synopsis
It is now possible to approach history as scientists approaches physics, without undue precedence given to current modern sensibilities. The Faustian historian will adopt a Copernican (not Ptolemaic) perspective.
II- History and Nature-page 94
The historian & scientist each create an image of the world; the scientist uses cognition and his image will be timeless containing Law and Number. The historian will use contemplation (akin to poetry) and his vision will show direction, Time and irreversibility. Mind Map 3ii
The world picture consists of Form & Law, both always present though in unequal proportions. Over Time (direction) BECOME is the child of becoming (occurs first) hence understanding Nature is restricted to the Megalopolitan few of late historical periods, whereas History is understood by all. see Mind Map 3 iii
All comprehension is morphology; SYSTEMATIC morphology is based on mechanical, scientific, become- principles of EXTENSION. PHYSIOGNOMIC morphology is based on DIRECTION-history, life, organic, becoming. HISTORY & NATURE each have their own unique form language but their worlds picture will overlap See Mind map 3 iv
V. Physiognomic and Systematic- page 100
Our focus is NOT on intentional accomplishment, specific problems trying to be solve (e.g. Archimedes’ The Quadrature of the Parabola, finding the area of a parabolic segment or Fermat’s Last Theorem) BUT rather unconscious, elements of "style...form" as the significant (e.g. Classic focus on the visible, Western focus on the infinite). Physiognomic is art of portrait applied to Cultures. The best portraits capture man's countenance, stature, experience & emotions; not just an imitation of his likeness. Literary characters can capture the portrait of an age or epoch. Systematic (cognition, based on mathematics) paints a picture of timeless nature. Physiognomic assumes just the opposite & uses a memory picture, higher imagination
Spengler refers to the phenomenon of the Great Cultures (meaning the great civilizations- China, Egypt, Babylonian, Faustian, Classic, American er al). Key understanding is the physiognomic, based on destiny & becoming, not cause/effect or history as become. It will consider the great symbols, the countenance of the culture as a living being.
Cultures as organisms- page 104
Cultures are organisms, world history their collective biography; we use comparative morphology (of Goethe – seeing, not Darwin based on cause/effect thinking). The idea of Culture (the Soul of the Culture, sum of all possibilities) differs from the sensible phenomenon of Culture (fulfilled actuality). Culture is the prime phenomenon of all past & future world history. The prime phenomenon is the idea of its becoming, presented net. Phenomenon such as culture must be grasped as organic, not mechanical or cause/effect. We see it thru analogy, symbol & picture, not formula, law or scheme; it requires feeling NOT thinking (cognition).
Cultures progress thru a life cycle- birth occurs when a great soul awakens from childhood & detaches itself- a mortal, bound form. Attached to the soil from whence it came, it blooms, actualizes all possibilities -language, art, dogma, state, science, becoming Culture. While alive it strives to maintain the idea against chaos. Once the idea is actualized in space/extension the Culture mortifies, congeals, hardens loosing force, to BECOME CIVILIZATION. Every culture passes thru the ages of man: childhood youth manhood old age. As fire in the soul dies, in a final effort it produces a Classicism & in Romanticism sees its childhood again, and finds a second religiousness.
VIII. Inner form, tempo, duration-page 108
In botany “habit” is the unique & proper way a plant manifests itself; this can be applied to the physiognomy of the organism Culture. We can refer to the habit (or style) of Culture, their choice of prime art expression (for the Classic frescoes & sculpture, for the West music counterpoint & oil paint) or rejection of others (plastic by Arabs), inclinations (esoteric for Indian, popular for Classic,), preferences (for oratory -Classic or writing as a form of spiritual communication -West, China); cultural styles include social convention, costume, administration, transport, politics, economics.
We can see definitive time spans:
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50 year period of initial Cultural becoming
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300 year period of Baroque
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1000 year period for the full Culture life cycle.
Every culturally significant man repeats in himself the life cycle of his Culture-the Spring-Summer-Autumn-Winter of the full Culture, not just his own niche or section or previous periods. In Goethe's Faust II & Wagner's Percival we see our own Faustian future.
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Homology means morphological equivalence, whereas analogy is functional equivalence. Structural parts (forms) of living organisms have a structural equivalence in other living organisms. Historical homological equivalents are 4th dynasty pyramids & Gothic cathedrals.
What is meant by "contemporary"- page 112
Spengler’s thesis is that events that are in the equivalent point in the Culture’s life cycle are contemporary - he calls these homologous forms e.g. Polyclitus with Bach (both occurring in the Summer perod of their respective life cycles). This principle allows us to predict the future of the West based on homologous forms/episodes of past Cultures. And will allow us to reconstruct the history of Cultures even if much of the documentary evidence & artefacts are lost!