world-systems:

Spengler is referring to metaphysical theory & philosophies which embrace & explain all things, God, nature, man, the universe; outward looking thinking or philosophy, to include epistemology, ontology (being),space & time, mind and body, teleology (design), cosmology among others; notable examples of such are Faustian philosophers Hegel, Kant; similar Apollonian philosophers include the pre-Socratic thinkers Thales, Anaximander & Anaximenes & Plato.  Metaphysics in Chinese philosophy dates back to the earliest Chinese philosophical concepts from the Zhou Dynasty (1046-256 BC) such as Tian (Heaven) and Yin & Yang.  In the Vedic Culture Samkhya is the oldest of the orthodox philosophical systems with roots in the 1st millennium BC.

 

ethics:

a branch of philosophy that involves systematizing & recommending concepts of right and wrong behaviour, it concerns matters of value, & aims to resolve questions of human morality by defining concepts such as good and evil.

​

Lutheranism (“Ein'feste Burg ist unser Gott"):

popular German hymn- A Mighty Fortress Is Our God composed & written by Luther between 1527 & 1529; the words are a paraphrase of Psalm 46.

 

The Marseillaise:

the national anthem of France, written in 1792 by Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle in Strasbourg after the declaration of war by France against Austria; adopted by the French National Convention as the Republic's anthem in 1795.  It was sung in Paris by volunteers from Marseille thereby acquired its nickname; recognised as the anthem of the international revolutionary movement, adopted by the Paris Commune in 1871, & in 1879, restored as France's national anthem; its evocative melody & lyrics have led to its widespread use as a song of revolution & incorporation into classical and popular music.

 

the Stoa:

shorthand for the Stoic school of Greek philosophy, originating with Zeno teaching at the Stoa Poikile (painted porch) on the north side of the Agora of Athens.

 

Europe's state-provision: * see EndNote<A>

Between 1877 & 1914 all the major nations of Europe initiated stare run welfare policies designed to help the working class & impoverished communities.  Germany was the first major power; she was quickly followed by Austro-Hungary, France & lastly the UK.  Polices included accident insurance, free schools & homes for the young & old, poor relief and pensions.

 

“greatest happiness of greatest number":

the "fundamental axiom" of Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) & his philosophy quote; he was an English philosopher, jurist & social reformer & founder of modern utilitarianism.  A leading theorist in Anglo-American philosophy of law & political radical, who advocated individual & economic freedoms, separation of church & state, freedom of expression, equal rights for women, right to divorce, abolition of slavery, ending of capital physical punishments (including that of children) & advocate of animal rights; opposed the idea of natural law and natural rights (both considered "God-given" in origin), calling them "nonsense upon stilts”   Influenced James Mill, JS Mill & Robert Owen (founders of utopian socialism); major influence on the welfare state & reform of prisons, schools, poor laws, law courts & Parliament.

 

Aeschylus's Prometheus:

Scholars at the Library of Alexandria deemed Aeschylus(525-455 BC) to be the author of the tragedy Prometheus Bound, it was based on the myth of Prometheus, a Titan who defies the gods and gives fire to mankind, acts for which he is subjected to perpetual punishment.  It was the first work in a trilogy that also included the plays Prometheus Lyomenos (Prometheus Unbound) and Prometheus Pyrphoros (Prometheus the Fire-Bearer), neither of which has survived.

 

Diogenes: * see EndNote<B>

412-323 BC, Greek philosopher, a founder of Cynic philosophy, lived in Athens & Corinth; famous for sleeping & eating wherever he chose in a highly non-traditional fashion, begged for a living & often slept in a large ceramic jar, in the marketplace