关键词: 歌德; 现代性; 工业化; 快速; 慢文化

Abstract: The article approaches Goethe’s understanding and criticism on modernity by the method of close reading. He thought modern times meant the age of large scale mechanized industry after the Middle Ages. He summarized the characteristics of the new age as Velocity. Velocity refers to quick pace of modern life and a rash for quick results of modern people under the pressure of competition. He thought the time spirit of Velocity was brought about by the industrial revolution and the French Revolution. The limitless progress of technology and speedy industrialization not only destroyed the nature, but also ruined human spirit. In addition, they caused the popularization of commercialized mass culture and the decaying of elite culture. The article also reveals influences of Goethe’s criticism on modernity on the cultural pessimism and technological pessimism of later ages by the studying method of history of thought. Through exploring Goethe’s idea of modernity and locating his criticism on modernity in the history of thought, the article fills the gap which has hitherto existed in the history of the concept of modernity.

Keywords: Goethe; modernity; industrialization; velocity; culture of leisure