INDIVIDUAL AGENCY IN HISTORY? GOETHE AND TOLSTOY ON “NAPOLEON BONAPARTE” CASE
INDIVIDUAL AGENCY IN HISTORY? GOETHE AND TOLSTOY ON “NAPOLEON BONAPARTE” CASE

Summary/Abstract: The question we aim to answer in the present paper is the fallowing: it is possible for a single individual to change the course of universal history? We want to provide a comparative approach following the writings of two great authors from different cultural areas (Goethe and Tolstoy), concerning what we might call the "Napoleon Bonaparte" case. In this purpose we will discuss the particular meaning in which Goethe employ the term “Daimonic” for describing the French emperor personality. In parallel we will study the opposed explanation provided by Tolstoy his the novel "War and Peace", regarding the war leaded by Napoleon against the Russians. Finally, we wish to suggest a resolution to this dilemma based on the principles of Hegelian philosophy of history, which appears to reconcile the two opposing viewpoints.

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