December 18

Johann Gottfried Herder was born in 1744 and emerged as a leading thinker in the Sturm und Drang literary movement. He argued that language, culture, and national character were deeply intertwined, paving the way for Romantic nationalism. As a theologian, he critiqued Enlightenment rationalism and emphasized the emotional and spiritual dimensions of faith. Herder's poetic works celebrated folk traditions and the unique spirit of different peoples. His 'Ideas for the Philosophy of History of Humanity' sketched a new vision of human progress shaped by cultural diversity. He influenced contemporaries like Goethe and Humboldt with his emphasis on empathy and historical context. Herder's legacy endures in philosophy, philology, and cultural studies.

Born in 1850 in Berlin, Eduard Bernstein became a leading figure in the German Social Democratic Party (SPD). In his 1899 work Evolutionary Socialism, he argued for gradual reform over revolutionary upheaval. Bernstein's revisionism sparked debate across Europe's socialist movements and reshaped political theory. He served multiple terms in the Reichstag, advocating social welfare legislation and democratic participation. Despite criticism from orthodox Marxists, his ideas laid the foundation for modern social democracy. Bernstein remained active in politics and writing until his death in 1932, securing his place as a key reformist thinker.