The Subjectivity of History

The final texts of the semester are the three table charts, from Oswald Spengler’s Decline of the West. The charts are a summary explanation of Spengler’s theory that History can be predetermined. In Decline of the West, Spengler explains that through the investigation of the past, he has “attempted for the first time the venture of predetermining history, of following the still untraveled stages in the destiny of a Culture’’.

Through the book and through the charts Spengler has identified different Cultures. For each one of them he has detailed their beginning, development, and conclusion. Or, in his words, the ‘Spring’ (the beginning), ‘Summer, and ‘Autumn’ (the development), and ‘Winter’ (the conclusion) of each of these Cultures.

The charts are so detailed and well thought out that part of you can help but agree and believe them. However, here in lies the trick, the inaccuracy that you cannot know the spring, summer, autumn and winter of a culture until it has fully concluded. A distance is required between you and the period you are analysing. And even in the case where it is certain that it is finished, how can you be sure the exact moments of change between the different ‘seasons’ of the Culture. The shifts, if they exist, are all subjective to the analyser. There is even an element of subjectivity in History itself. One event could be deemed really important to a specific population, but not noteworthy for another one. Moreover the amount of cultures through history could be more or less than the ones Spengler has selected.

There is also the mistake of if everything is predetermined this will not insight you to do anything. The future doesn’t seem full of possibilities, it just seems inevitable: an inevitable darkness. There needs to be the indication of a future for there to be progress. History is proof that there has been development; different cultures might have gone through things that are similar but they have also learnt from each other, from what has happened in the past. This makes me feel that. even if certain bits seem to repeat themselves, History is linear, and maybe the reason for these repeats is both humans make mistakes, and sometimes have to do something wrong a few times before them learn.