The transition from Victorianism to Modernism.

Queen Victoria ( )

A time of robust confidence in the powers of humankind. 1. Political Stability 2. Prosperity a. Industrialization b. Inventions – electricity, steam engine c. Global Connectedness – railways, telegraph 3. Rise of the Middle Class 4. Rigid Morality based on Christian ethics

Charles Darwin On the Origin of the Species, 1859 Karl Marx Das Kapital, 1867 Sigmund Freud Interpretation of Dreams, 1899

Genetic determinism Mankind evolved from more primitive life forms (not Adam and Eve) “survival of the fittest”

“dialectical materialism” – world in constant state of flux from one epoch to another Individual/societal identity determined by which epoch is dominant “Religion is the opiate of the masses.”

Behaviors determined by unconscious forces Human “nature” essentially dark and violent Civilization only possible through repression

If we are not made in God’s image, then what are we?

God and religious values are dead.  Determinism: biological, psychological, economic  WWI broke out and Europe was decimated.  God wasn’t protecting humankind. Determinism “didn’t work”.  EXISTENTIALISM!

Religious world view: Essence  Existence Existentialism: Existence  Essence

Franz Kafka – born in Prague, Jewish, middle class, classically educated at the state Gymnasium Troubled relationship with authoritarian father “Kafkaesque” - characteristic or reminiscent of the oppressive or nightmarish qualities Not published in his lifetime; requested that all of his writings be burned upon his death (from tuberculosis) His friend fled to Palestine and published them from there