Conquering the Unknowable: Romanticism's Influence on Helmuth von Moltke
Abstract
As the general officer credited with putting Carl von Clausewitz's theories into practice, Helmuth von Moltke had a profound influence on modern warfare, most notably revolutionizing the role of the general staff and, in the face of much criticism, unapologetically advocating for the empowerment of subordinate leaders. His influence remains present in modern command structures and mission command thinking. Although they are typically associated with the intellectual approaches of emergent military science, the foundations of Moltke's most influential practices were rooted in Romantic philosophy. To be sure, his belief in human reason's ability to deconstruct and synthesize complex information reflects Immanuel Kant's theories on the human mind's categorization and synthesis of particulars, which Kant termed synthetic judgments a priori. Moltke also betrayed an affinity for Romantic interpretations of sublimity, humanism, and autonomy that in the end dominated his theories and practices. Moltke, one of the greatest modern military theorists and practitioners, cannot be correctly evaluated without consideration of all the influences on his thinking and practice.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 25, 2017
- Accession Number
- AD1087827
Entities
People
- Karin R. Gresham
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College