Postscript to Mielcke’s Lithuanian Dictionary
Kant argues for retaining Lithuanian in schooling and religious instruction in Prussia. He connects language with cultural formation and interest in the history of migration.
Understanding the text
This short 1800 postscript accompanies Christian Gottlieb Mielcke’s Lithuanian–German dictionary and includes historical judgments that require contextual reading.
Key points
- 01
Education
Using and teaching a language contributes, Kant argues, to the formation of the people who speak it.
- 02
History
Research on languages can illuminate ancient movements of populations.
- 03
Limits
His collective characterizations and preference for supposedly pure language require critical contemporary reading.
How to read it
Separate the defense of language instruction from generalizations about the character of peoples.
Editions & sources
Summaries and key points are original editorial interpretations. They accompany reading the work and do not replace an edition of the text. Editorial method ↗