Weimar Thought : A Contested Legacy

A comprehensive look at the intellectual and cultural innovations of the Weimar period During its short lifespan, the Weimar Republic (1918-33) witnessed an unprecedented flowering of achievements in many areas, including psychology, political theory, physics, philosophy, literary and cultural criticism, and the arts. Leading intellectuals, scholars, and critics--such as Hannah Arendt, Walter Benjamin, Ernst Bloch, Bertolt Brecht, and Martin Heidegger--emerged during this time to become the foremost thinkers of the twentieth century. Even today, the Weimar era remains a vital resource for new intellectual movements. In this incomparable collection, Weimar Thought presents both the specialist and the general reader a comprehensive guide and unified portrait of the most important innovators, themes, and trends of this fascinating period. The book is divided into four thematic sections: law, politics, and society; philosophy, theology, and science; aesthetics, literature, and film; and general cultural and social themes of the Weimar period. The volume brings together established and emerging scholars from a remarkable array of fields, and each individual essay serves as an overview for a particular discipline while offering distinctive critical engagement with relevant problems and debates. Whether used as an introductory companion or advanced scholarly resource, Weimar Thought provides insight into the rich developments behind the intellectual foundations of modernity.-- "Choice" During Its Short Lifespan, The Weimar Republic (1918-33) Witnessed An Unprecedented Flowering Of Achievements In Many Areas, Including Psychology, Political Theory, Physics, Philosophy, Literary And Cultural Criticism, And The Arts. Leading Intellectuals, Scholars, And Critics--such As Hannah Arendt, Walter Benjamin, Ernst Bloch, Bertolt Brecht, And Martin Heidegger--emerged During This Time To Become The Foremost Thinkers Of The Twentieth Century. Even Today, The Weimar Era Remains A Vital Resource For New Intellectual Movements. In This Incomparable Collection, Weimar Thought Presents Both The Specialist And The General Reader A Comprehensive Guide And Unified Portrait Of The Most Important Innovators, Themes, And Trends Of This Fascinating Period. The Book Is Divided Into Four Thematic Sections: Law, Politics, And Society; Philosophy, Theology, And Science; Aesthetics, Literature, And Film; And General Cultural And Social Themes Of The Weimar Period. The Volume Brings Together Established And Emerging Scholars From A Remarkable Array Of Fields, And Each Individual Essay Serves As An Overview For A Particular Discipline While Offering Distinctive Critical Engagement With Relevant Problems And Debates. Whether Used As An Introductory Companion Or Advanced Scholarly Resource, Weimar Thought Provides Insight Into The Rich Developments Behind The Intellectual Foundations Of Modernity.--publisher Website. Introduction : Weimar Thought : Continuity And Crisis / Peter E. Gordon And John P. Mccormick -- Weimar Sociology / David Kettler And Colin Loader -- Weimar Psychology : Holistic Visions And Trained Intuition / Mitchell G. Ash -- Legal Theory And The Weimar Crisis Of Law And Social Change / John P. Mccormick -- The Legacy Of Max Weber In Weimar Political And Social Theory / Dana Villa -- Kulturphilosophie In Weimar Modernism / John Michael Krois -- Weimar Philosophy And The Fate Of Neo-kantianism / Frederick Beiser -- Weimar Philosophy And The Crisis Of Historical Thinking / Charles Bambach -- Weimar Theology : From Historicism To Crisis / Peter E. Gordon -- Method, Moment, And Crisis In Weimar Science / Cathryn Carson -- Walter Benjamin, Siegfried Kracauer, And Weimar Criticism / Michael Jennings -- Writers And Politics In The Weimar Republic / Karin Gunnemann -- Aesthetic Fundamentalism In Weimar Poetry : Stefan George And His Circle, 1918-1933 / Martin A. Ruehl -- Weimar Film Theory / Sabine Hake -- The Politics Of Art And Architecture At The Bauhaus, 1919-1933 / John V. Maciuika -- Aby Warburg And The Secularization Of The Image / Michael P. Steinberg -- Eastern Wisdom In An Era Of Western Despair : Orientalism In 1920s Central Europe / Susanne Marchand -- Weimar Femininity : Within And Beyond The Law / Tracie Matysik -- The Weimar Left : Theory And Practice / Martin Jay -- The Aftermath : Reflections On The Culture And Ideology Of National Socialism / Anson Rabinbach -- Weimar Thought : A Chronology. Edited By Peter E. Gordon And John P. Mccormick. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Contents......Page 6 Introduction: Weimar Thought: Continuity and Crisis......Page 10 Part I: Law, Politics, Society......Page 22 1 Weimar Sociology......Page 24 2 Weimar Psychology: Holistic Visions and Trained Intuition......Page 44 3 Legal Theory and the Weimar Crisis of Law and Social Change......Page 64 4 The Legacy of Max Weber in Weimar Political and Social Theory......Page 82 Part II: Philosophy, Theology, Science......Page 108 5 Kulturphilosophie in Weimar Modernism......Page 110 6 Weimar Philosophy and the Fate of Neo-Kantianism......Page 124 7 Weimar Philosophy and the Crisis of Historical Thinking......Page 142 8 Weimar Theology: From Historicism to Crisis......Page 159 9 Method, Moment, and Crisis in Weimar Science......Page 188 Part III: Aesthetics, Literature, Film......Page 210 10 Walter Benjamin, Siegfried Kracauer, and Weimar Criticism......Page 212 11 Writers and Politics in the Weimar Republic......Page 229 12 Aesthetic Fundamentalism in Weimar Poetry: Stefan George and his Circle, 1918–1933......Page 249 13 Weimar Film Theory......Page 282 14 The Politics of Art and Architecture at the Bauhaus, 1919–1933......Page 300 15 Aby Warburg and the Secularization of the Image......Page 325 Part IV: Themes of an Epoch......Page 348 16 Eastern Wisdom in an Era of Western Despair: Orientalism in 1920s Central Europe......Page 350 17 Weimar Femininity: Within and Beyond the Law......Page 370 18 The Weimar Left: Theory and Practice......Page 386 19 The Aftermath: Reflections on the Culture and Ideology of National Socialism......Page 403 Weimar Thought: A Chronology......Page 416 Contributors......Page 426 Index......Page 432 During its short lifespan, the Weimar Republic (1918–33) witnessed an unprecedented flowering of achievements in many areas, including psychology, political theory, physics, philosophy, literary and cultural criticism, and the arts. Leading intellectuals, scholars, and critics—such as Hannah Arendt, Walter Benjamin, Ernst Bloch, Bertolt Brecht, and Martin Heidegger—emerged during this time to become the foremost thinkers of the twentieth century. Even today, the Weimar era remains a vital resource for new intellectual movements. This book presents a comprehensive guide and unified portrait of the most important innovators, themes, and trends of this fascinating period. The book is divided into four thematic sections: law, politics, and society; philosophy, theology, and science; aesthetics, literature, and film; and general cultural and social themes of the Weimar period. It brings together established and emerging scholars from a remarkable array of fields, and each individual essay serves as an overview for a particular discipline while offering distinctive critical engagement with relevant problems and debates. Whether used as an introductory companion or advanced scholarly resource, the book provides insight into the rich developments behind the intellectual foundations of modernity.