The Decline Of The West: Form And Actuality Vol.1

This book the first volume of a two-volume work by Oswald Spengler introduces itself as a Copernican overturning involving the rejection of the Eurocentric view of history especially the division of history into the linear ancient-medieval-modern rubric. Explaining that the meaningful units for history are not epochs but whole cultures which evolve as organisms it recognizes at least eight high cultures—Babylonian Egyptian Chinese Indian Mesoamerican Classical (Greek/Roman) Arabian and Western or “European-American”. Written just before the First World War Spengler argues that the Western world is ending and we are witnessing the last season—winter time—of Faustian Civilization. In his depiction Western Man is a proud but tragic figure because while he strives and creates he secretly knows the actual goal will never be reached.