Abstract
This essay traces the influence of the nineteenth century Swiss historical school led by the historian Jacob Burckhardt upon the thought of the theologian Karl Barth. Barth utilizes the unseasonable thoughts of Burckhardt and Nietzsche to critique the optimistic philosophy of history based in Berlin. Burckhardt’s suspicion of power is especially important for Barth as they both disagree with Nietzsche’s fascination with power and Hegel’s optimistic historical reason. However, Barth’s mature ideas about history are almost exclusively focused on God’s revelation in Christ, distancing himself from Burckhardt’s overtly pessimistic reading of history. The paper closes asking if Barth ever successfully navigates away from Hegelian historical reason
Correction Note
Originally, also the article Hans-Martin Kirn, [Rev.], Irene A. Diekmann (Hg.): Das Emanzipationsedikt von 1812 in Preußen; Marion Schulte: Über die bürgerlichen Verhältnisse der Juden in Preußen was published under this DOI. Its correct DOI is 10.1515/znth-2015-1008.
© 2015 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin/Boston
