Herbartianism an its impact on Austrian humanities

The proposed research project investigates Herbartianism and its impact on Austrian humanities and social sciences. The analyses will be focused on psychology, philosophy, economy and theory of law. Further attention will be given to Herbartian schoolbooks ("Philosophische Propädeutik"). Additional research in the field of art historyheory of art is covered by the results of research project 10454, Jubilaeumsfonds. It is the general goal of the project to (re)investigate the role of Herbartianism for Austrian humanities and social sciences - a topic not uncommon to researchers until World War II. Current research on herbartian traditions of theorizing, however, seems to be limited to Freud. The analyses shall investigate the intellectual context as well as the political background of Austrian Herbartianism and shall be focused on its specific impact on Austrian scholars. With Herbartianism being desribed as an "Austrian road to modernity" , the proposed research project shall also contribute to a better understanding of Austrian modernity. The choice of disciplines taken into account follows Le Rider, who listed disciplines with the most innovative potential and a striking concurrence of innovative ideas. Fine art and literature are outside the scope of fields analyzed, as well as science or pedagogics (though important for their own herbartian traditions). However, relevant intellectual connections with the main focus of interest shall be established. Special further attention will be given to certain elements of Herbartian methodology like research as opposed to philosophical systems, formalism, autonomism, cognitivism, methodological individualism, conservative revolutionarism. In addition to the investigation of broader theoretical approaches, also the work of individual scholars will be analyzed. Within the organisational framework of the proposed project, there will be national (Moritz Csky) as well as international (Lothar Schneider) cooperation.

The proposed research project investigates Herbartianism and its impact on Austrian humanities and social sciences. The analyses will be focused on psychology, philosophy, economy and theory of law. Further attention will be given to Herbartian schoolbooks ("Philosophische Propädeutik"). Additional research in the field of art historyheory of art is covered by the results of research project 10454, Jubilaeumsfonds. It is the general goal of the project to (re)investigate the role of Herbartianism for Austrian humanities and social sciences - a topic not uncommon to researchers until World War II. Current research on herbartian traditions of theorizing, however, seems to be limited to Freud. The analyses shall investigate the intellectual context as well as the political background of Austrian Herbartianism and shall be focused on its specific impact on Austrian scholars. With Herbartianism being desribed as an "Austrian road to modernity" , the proposed research project shall also contribute to a better understanding of Austrian modernity. The choice of disciplines taken into account follows Le Rider, who listed disciplines with the most innovative potential and a striking concurrence of innovative ideas. Fine art and literature are outside the scope of fields analyzed, as well as science or pedagogics (though important for their own herbartian traditions). However, relevant intellectual connections with the main focus of interest shall be established. Special further attention will be given to certain elements of Herbartian methodology like research as opposed to philosophical systems, formalism, autonomism, cognitivism, methodological individualism, conservative revolutionarism. In addition to the investigation of broader theoretical approaches, also the work of individual scholars will be analyzed. Within the organisational framework of the proposed project, there will be national (Moritz Csky) as well as international (Lothar Schneider) cooperation.