Doctoral defence: Kadi Kähär-Peterson „Garlieb Merkel’s Political Thought: A Baltic Perspective on Enlightenment“

On 17 June at 16:15 Kadi Kähär-Peterson will defend his doctoral thesis „Garlieb Merkel’s Political Thought: A Baltic Perspective on Enlightenment“.

Supervisors:
Professor Pärtel Piirimäe, University of Tartu
Professor Eva Piirimäe, University of Tartu

Oponent:
Senior Researcher Pauls Daija, National Library of Latvia

Summary

Garlieb Merkel (1769–1850) is one of the most controversial authors of the Baltic Enlightenment. Ever since his works were published, they have caused polemics. Critics have argued that Merkel failed to grasp the particularities of certain regions or historical situations, while others have praised him as a visionary integrating previously distinct topics to devise solutions. This dissertation analyzes Merkel’s political visions and philosophical ideas in the context of their creation to better understand his opinions and intentions. It shows that Merkel sought to promote human perfectibility by seeking common ground between universal values, general laws, and nuances of a specific context. The focus is not only on the ways Merkel presented himself to his readers (his professional persona) but also on his failed, and largely forgotten, attempts to write a “history of humanity and humankind.” Special attention is given to Merkel’s theories of revolution and progress, as well as his critique of Baltic serfdom, which emphasized the original contract underlying every polity and the common good as the goal of all functioning societies. Furthermore, the dissertation reconstructs Merkel’s critique of the Baltic Popular Enlightenment and the Germanization of Estonians and Latvians after the abolition of serfdom. It discusses Merkel’s relationship to the debates in Europe about imperialism, human rights, and how to support social cohesion, as well as how his ideas were connected with those of Johann Gottfried Herder, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, David Hume, and other European Enlightenment philosophers. Lastly, Merkel’s view of Europe, including Russia; his reasons for opposing Napoleon; and his understanding of Europe after the Congress of Vienna are examined.