The German Monistic Movement, 1871-1933

FAIN: RO-10773-70

Illinois State University (Normal, IL 61790-0001)
Niles R. Holt (Project Director: October 1970 to present)

To complete research concerning the German Monistic movement, the largest socially and politically-oriented scientific movement in Imperial and Weimar German. Primarily an academic movement with ties to other internationalist and peace groups in German, as well as to the German Social Democratic party, the Monistic movement popularized Social Darwinian concepts of eugenics and euthanasia utilized by National Socialism. As cultural optimists, the Monists were confident that, through Darwinism, the insights of science and humanities could be combined to solve social and political problem in Germany. Final result will be book; will constitute 1st history of one of major social reform groups in Imperial and Weimar Germany.