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glossary page 6

 

world-as-history:

Spengler posits this as a second fundamental mode of perception (the opposite of world-as-nature), based on the concept of a morphology of world history seeking to comprehend the Destiny of higher Cultures; it is the domain of the logic of time, not the logic of space.

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chronological:

arranged in the order of time (e.g. a chronological list of events); the sequential order in which past events occur; the science of arranging time in periods & ascertaining the dates and historical order of past events

 

mathematical:

relating to the systematic treatment of magnitude, relationships between figures & forms, and relations between quantities expressed symbolically

 

pragmatic:

relating to a practical point of view; treating historical phenomena with special reference to their causes, antecedent conditions & results

 

natural science:

knowledge of objects or processes observable in nature, (e.g. biology or physics), as distinguished from the abstract or theoretical sciences (e.g. mathematics or philosophy)

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materialistic idea of history:

(aka historical materialism) a methodology used by scientific socialists & Marxist historiographers to understand human societies and their development through history, arguing history is not driven by individuals' consciousness or ideals but rather that matter is the fundamental substance of nature & the driving force in all of world history; first articulated by Marx (1818–1883) as the "materialist conception of history", it asserts that the material conditions of a society's mode of production determine society's organization & development.  This is a fundamental aspect of Marx & Engels' scientific socialism, arguing that applying scientific analysis to history reveals fundamental contradictions within the capitalist system that will be resolved when the proletariat seizes state power and begins the process of implementing socialism.

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supererogation:

the act of doing more than duty requires

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morphological relationship:

Spengler dismisses the cause-effect approach to history and instead posits this approach, centred on a study of the form or structure of a culture; by form he means Cultural symbols such as great artwork, temples or political constitutions, the physical & psychological manifestations of a Culture’s soul

Decline of the West    Chapter I:  Introduction 
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