Bildungsbürgertum
Encyclopedia
Bildungsbürgertum, a social class
that initially emerged in mid 18th century Germany
as an educated class of the bourgeoisie
with an educational ideal based on idealistic values and classical antiquity
. Hence the Bildungsbürgertum could be described as the intellectual and economic upper bourgeoisie in contrast to the kleinbürgertum (Petite bourgeoisie
).
, they gained material, social position and a better education which was based on the "Humboldt's educational ideal. The idea of Bildung (i.e. culture, education) was shaped by a belief in human perfectibility, specifically that an individual's potential could be realized through a classical education.
In the the late absolutist management state there existed a need for a large number of educated officials to implement reforms. To avoid a violent revolution, as in France, a national-class was formed that had access to the cultural education that gave them access to political positions. As a result, many educational institutions were established and significantly more numerous in Germany than in other countries. The universities established in Germany, including the Humboldt University, became a model for modern universities in other countries. This new class was not primarily defined politically or economically, but mainly culturally. It is often considered that to the Bildungsbürgertum that Germany owed its reputation in technical expertise, scholarship and administration
Nationalism
at its origin was a liberal ideal and as the bildungsbürgertum were often represented in the liberal factions of society, they were often in the forefront of the quest for the founding of an sovereign nation state. By the 1870s, the bulk of the Bildungsbürgertum had lost its forward driving liberal orientation.
According to professor Klaus Vondung, the following characteristics could be applied to the Bildungsbürgertum in the end the 19th century:
In 18th century, academic occupations such as professors, gymnasium
teachers, physicians, attorneys, judges, engineers and leading officials were strongly represented among the bildungsbürger.
In Germany the Bildungsbürgertum exercised first influence before the bourgeoisie as the commercial class gained more influence during the industrialization from 1850 onwards. In France and Britain, it developed first mainly as an commercial class and could, by virtue of its economic power claim political power. In Germany the formation of the bourgeoisie only in the first half of the 1800s to be politically active. It played a crucial role in the revolution of 1848, which still failed.
Well-known examples of associated with term Bildungsbürgertum is the 20 century writer Thomas Mann
or the Weizsäcker family.
The term Bildungsbürgertum is a concept difficult to translate into the English language. The notion of the word "bildung" has broader meaning then "culture", "education" and is deeply rooted in the idea of the Enlightenment. The term also corresponds to the ideal of education in the work of Wilhelm von Humbolt
's sense. Thus, in this context, the concept of education becomes a lifelong process of human development, rather mere training in gaining certain external knowledge or skills, education is seen as a process wherein an individual's spiritual and cultural sensibilities as well as life, personal and social skills are in process of continual expansion and growth. (See Bildung
, General knowledge
)
Social class
Social classes are economic or cultural arrangements of groups in society. Class is an essential object of analysis for sociologists, political scientists, economists, anthropologists and social historians. In the social sciences, social class is often discussed in terms of 'social stratification'...
that initially emerged in mid 18th century Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
as an educated class of the bourgeoisie
Bourgeoisie
In sociology and political science, bourgeoisie describes a range of groups across history. In the Western world, between the late 18th century and the present day, the bourgeoisie is a social class "characterized by their ownership of capital and their related culture." A member of the...
with an educational ideal based on idealistic values and classical antiquity
Classical antiquity
Classical antiquity is a broad term for a long period of cultural history centered on the Mediterranean Sea, comprising the interlocking civilizations of ancient Greece and ancient Rome, collectively known as the Greco-Roman world...
. Hence the Bildungsbürgertum could be described as the intellectual and economic upper bourgeoisie in contrast to the kleinbürgertum (Petite bourgeoisie
Petite bourgeoisie
Petit-bourgeois or petty bourgeois is a term that originally referred to the members of the lower middle social classes in the 18th and early 19th centuries...
).
Formation
Bildungsbürgertum was the term for a new social class that initially emerged in Germany in the mid 18th century that distinguished themselves through education in the humanities, literature, science and involvement in the state affairs. As a class of wealthy non-noble people, emerging first in the free imperial citesFree Imperial City
In the Holy Roman Empire, a free imperial city was a city formally ruled by the emperor only — as opposed to the majority of cities in the Empire, which were governed by one of the many princes of the Empire, such as dukes or prince-bishops...
, they gained material, social position and a better education which was based on the "Humboldt's educational ideal. The idea of Bildung (i.e. culture, education) was shaped by a belief in human perfectibility, specifically that an individual's potential could be realized through a classical education.
In the the late absolutist management state there existed a need for a large number of educated officials to implement reforms. To avoid a violent revolution, as in France, a national-class was formed that had access to the cultural education that gave them access to political positions. As a result, many educational institutions were established and significantly more numerous in Germany than in other countries. The universities established in Germany, including the Humboldt University, became a model for modern universities in other countries. This new class was not primarily defined politically or economically, but mainly culturally. It is often considered that to the Bildungsbürgertum that Germany owed its reputation in technical expertise, scholarship and administration
Nationalism
Nationalism
Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...
at its origin was a liberal ideal and as the bildungsbürgertum were often represented in the liberal factions of society, they were often in the forefront of the quest for the founding of an sovereign nation state. By the 1870s, the bulk of the Bildungsbürgertum had lost its forward driving liberal orientation.
According to professor Klaus Vondung, the following characteristics could be applied to the Bildungsbürgertum in the end the 19th century:
- academic education
- in-group behaviour, kept apart from other social classes and establishing neo-aristocratic thinking especially concerning stature and pedigree.
- high self-recruitment
- social prestige perceived more important than material wealth
- predominantly Protestant
- considered as "cultural elite"
- dominated certain professions
In 18th century, academic occupations such as professors, gymnasium
Gymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
teachers, physicians, attorneys, judges, engineers and leading officials were strongly represented among the bildungsbürger.
In Germany the Bildungsbürgertum exercised first influence before the bourgeoisie as the commercial class gained more influence during the industrialization from 1850 onwards. In France and Britain, it developed first mainly as an commercial class and could, by virtue of its economic power claim political power. In Germany the formation of the bourgeoisie only in the first half of the 1800s to be politically active. It played a crucial role in the revolution of 1848, which still failed.
Well-known examples of associated with term Bildungsbürgertum is the 20 century writer Thomas Mann
Thomas Mann
Thomas Mann was a German novelist, short story writer, social critic, philanthropist, essayist, and 1929 Nobel Prize laureate, known for his series of highly symbolic and ironic epic novels and novellas, noted for their insight into the psychology of the artist and the intellectual...
or the Weizsäcker family.
Term
The term itself was coined in the 1920s by the Right-wing and had an had anti-bourgeois sentiment, which was perceived by the incompatible idea of being an 'genuine' intellectual and a bourgeois (Bürger).The term Bildungsbürgertum is a concept difficult to translate into the English language. The notion of the word "bildung" has broader meaning then "culture", "education" and is deeply rooted in the idea of the Enlightenment. The term also corresponds to the ideal of education in the work of Wilhelm von Humbolt
Wilhelm von Humboldt
Friedrich Wilhelm Christian Karl Ferdinand Freiherr von Humboldt was a German philosopher, government functionary, diplomat, and founder of Humboldt Universität. He is especially remembered as a linguist who made important contributions to the philosophy of language and to the theory and practice...
's sense. Thus, in this context, the concept of education becomes a lifelong process of human development, rather mere training in gaining certain external knowledge or skills, education is seen as a process wherein an individual's spiritual and cultural sensibilities as well as life, personal and social skills are in process of continual expansion and growth. (See Bildung
Bildung
The term refers to the German tradition of self-cultivation, , wherein philosophy and education are linked in manner that refers to a process of both personal and cultural maturation...
, General knowledge
General knowledge
General knowledge has been defined by differential psychologists as referring to 'culturally valued knowledge communicated by a range of non-specialist media' General knowledge therefore encompasses a wide range of knowledge domains...
)
See also
- Upper middle classUpper middle classThe upper middle class is a sociological concept referring to the social group constituted by higher-status members of the middle class. This is in contrast to the term "lower middle class", which is used for the group at the opposite end of the middle class stratum, and to the broader term "middle...
- Great BurgherGreat burgherGreat Burgher is a specific title and legally defined "order of citizenship", a higher ranking type of citizen and social order, a formally defined social class of wealthy high status individuals and families in medieval German-speaking cities and towns under the Holy...
- Patrician (post-Roman Europe)
- Hanseaten (class)Hanseaten (class)The Hanseaten is a collective term for the heirachy group consisting of elite individuals and families of prestigious rank who constituted the ruling class of the free imperial city of Hamburg, conjointly with the equal First Families of the free imperial cities Bremen and Lübeck...
- High cultureHigh cultureHigh culture is a term, now used in a number of different ways in academic discourse, whose most common meaning is the set of cultural products, mainly in the arts, held in the highest esteem by a culture...
- Social environmentSocial environmentThe social environment of an individual, also called social context or milieu, is the culture that s/he was educated or lives in, and the people and institutions with whom the person interacts....
- Social statusSocial statusIn sociology or anthropology, social status is the honor or prestige attached to one's position in society . It may also refer to a rank or position that one holds in a group, for example son or daughter, playmate, pupil, etc....
- Symbolic capitalSymbolic capitalIn sociology and anthropology, symbolic capital can be referred to as the resources available to an individual on the basis of honor, prestige or recognition, and functions as an authoritative embodiment of cultural value...
- MentifactMentifactMentifact is a term coined by Sir Julian Sorell Huxley, used together with the related terms "sociofact" and "artifact" to describe how cultural traits, such as "beliefs, values, ideas," take on a life of their own spanning over generations, and are conceivable as objects in themselves...
- Habitus (sociology)
Literature
- Werner Conze, Jürgen Kocka (red.): Bildungsbürgertum im 19. Jahrhundert. Klett-Cotta, Stuttgart 1985 ff.
- 1. Bildungssystem und Professionalisierung in internationalen Vergleichen. 1985, ISBN 3-608-91254-1.
- 3. Lebensführung und ständische Vergesellschaftung. 1992, ISBN 3-608-91558-3.
- Lothar Gall: Bürgertum, liberale Bewegung und Nation. Ausgewählte Aufsätze. Orbis-Verlag, München 2000, ISBN 3-572-01175-2.
- Michael Hartmann: Der Mythos von den Leistungseliten. Spitzenkarrieren und soziale Herkunft in Wirtschaft, Politik, Justiz und Wissenschaft. Campus Verlag, Frankfurt/M. 2002, ISBN 3-593-37151-0.
- Malte Herwig: Eliten in einer egalitären Welt. wjs-Verlag, Berlin 2005, ISBN 3-937989-11-0. (Website zum Buch)
- Oskar Köhler: Bürger, Bürgertum. I: Staatslexikon. Herder, Freiburg/B.
- 1. 1985, ISBN 3-451-19301-9 Sp. 1040 ff. (mit weiterführender Literatur)
- Mario R. Lepsius (red.): Das Bildungsbürgertum als ständische Vergesellschaftung. In: Ders.: Lebensführung und ständische Vergesellschaftung. Klett-Cotta, Stuttgart 1992, ISBN 3-608-91558-3.
- Pia Schmid: Deutsches Bildungsbürgertum. Bürgerliche Bildung zwischen 1750 und 1830. Dissertation, Universität Frankfurt/M. 1984.
- Klaus Vondung (red.): Das wilhelminische Bildungsbürgertum. Zur Sozialgeschichte seiner Ideen. Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen 1976, ISBN 3-525-33393-5.