The Historical thought of Ernst von Lasaulx

Abstract

The student of modern history may be acquainted with name of Ernst von Lasaulx through references which two well-known historians have made to him in their writings. In Jacob Burckhardt's lectures on Force and Freedom? which have acquired wide renown in recent years, historian of Basle refers to Lasaulx more often than to any other single writer on Indeed, reader today sometimes receives impression that Burckhardt gave his lectures in a conversation in which Lasaulx, now forgotten holder of a chair of history at University of Munich, was a silent partner who was addressed time and again, although speaker usually voiced dissent. In his formative years in Munich, Lord Acton, some of whose works seem due for a renaissance today, had been a student of Lasaulx. Acton more than once mentions his one-time professor. Probably most important reference occurs in Acton's discussion of Buckle's philosophy of history, when Acton blamed this English philosopher for not having consulted only three books which, during last ten years, have really advanced study of philosophy of history. After drawing attention to Gobineau's Essay on Inequality of Races and to a work of Vollgraff that is completely forgotten today, Acton continues: third book is the work of most eloquent and accomplished philosopher in Germany and passes in review, in 168 pages, all great questions which constitute philosophy of The wisest sayings of ancients, and latest discoveries of moderns, are brought together with incomparable taste and learning; since Schlegel, so brilliant a work has not appeared on same field. In these words does Lord Acton introduce reader to Lasaulx' Philosophie der Geschichte. 1 References in this article are made to edition: New York, 1943, with an introduction by James Hastings Nichols. On Burckhardt^ attitude toward Lasaulx, cf. Karl Joel, Jacob Burckhardt als Geschichtsphilosoph (Basel, 1918), p. 54 ff. 2 In Historical Essays and Studies (London, 1907), p. 330 f.; first published in The Rambler, 1858. •The complete title reads: Neuer Versuch einer alten, auf die Wahrheit der Tatsachen