Thank you Germany: Part 033: German philosophy has a special reputation

It all began with "German Idealism": Georg Friedrich Wilhelm Hegel, Friedrich Hölderlin, Schlegel, Novalis and many others established the special world fame of German philosophy. The Germans can also be proud of their Romanticism. This does not just mean a special atmosphere at a private candlelight dinner. The Romantic era also saw the emergence of an important movement in philosophy and art. German writers, philosophers and artists created world-famous works during this period. They continue to inspire many thinkers, writers and painters around the world to this day.

Anyone interested in culture cannot avoid works from Germany. Many tourists visit the country to walk in the footsteps of these great thinkers, to visit the original of a particular painting or to pay a visit to the birthplace of a great personality. The thinkers of German Idealism laid theoretical foundations that many scientific disciplines could not do without. Even if not every school of philosophy still relies on the insights of that time today, almost all important thinkers have dealt with them. French post-structuralism would also be inconceivable without Hegel's fundamental works. Thinkers in France have also benefited considerably from analysing the works from Germany.

Germany can be proud of these important works. Those who live here and speak the language also have the advantage of being able to read the basic works in the original text. Today, there are annotated editions of many works in Germany. In these, the text is edited precisely and historically-critically. Following the text, there is a scholarly commentary or an introduction that facilitates access. This provides important information and a solid textual basis for those who need to work with such works. However, the annotated editions also provide an ideal basis for people who want to gain access to the text purely out of curiosity or personal interest. If you already live in Germany, you should not miss out on this opportunity.

The important works reflect the philosophy of the time at its intellectual peak. The texts are not always as difficult to read as their reputation claims. Once you have familiarised yourself with a thinker, you can usually follow his formulations very well. German philosophers are characterised by very precise language. Everything is precisely defined and the text is based on a skilful methodical approach. But the images of the time also provide a good insight into the spirit of the times. This is why they are a popular genre all over the world. Even advertising takes up some ideas from art history. It is therefore not uncommon for a trained eye to discover references to images from so-called high culture in everyday culture. Many of these images were created by artists from Germany.

Even if the country is not as old as Roman antiquity, it can still look back on considerable cultural achievements. You can enjoy these, no matter which country you come from. You simply have to love Germany for that.