Abstract

This dissertation examines Herder's early notions of immortality and their impact upon the evolution of his concept of identity. Through analysis of Herder's writings from 1766 to 1774, I demonstrate how Herder's conceptions of immortality transform a traditional Enlightenment model of identity into a modern identity construct that frees the individual to shape his life without concern for repercussions after death. Given that the issue of immortality is rarely addressed in Herder's major works, the textual basis of my arguments consists mainly of occasional texts such as letters, essay outlines, fragments, reviews, notes, sermons, poems and his 1769 journal. ;From the analysis of these sources, the importance of the subtext of identity issues found in Herder's early writings clearly emerges. Moreover, I was able to place this thinker's more widely renowned early works in a new context. This study is intended not only as a contribution to Herder scholarship but to research in eighteenth and nineteenth century studies into the genesis of the modern concept of identity and the notion of the individual. ;The first chapter discusses Herder's responses in 1766 to 1768 to an orthodox Christian model of immortality as well as to two widespread Enlightenment models , revealing Herder's emphasis on sensuality in his conception of identity, and his increasing skepticism that the soul maybe denoted as a postmortal bearer of personal identity. Chapter II examines Herder's first delineation of his groundbreaking concept of a non-personal immortality and investigates the wide range of theories that might have played a role in shaping his new model. The third chapter analyzes Herder's second, refined version of immortality and argues that its new ontological foundation is heavily influenced by his reception of Spinoza. The fourth chapter shows how Herder's conceptualizations of the individual are informed by the consequences of his models of immortality. The dissertation concludes with a summary of the main arguments presented and with a brief overview of the philosophical discussion on immortality and identity following Herder's early writings