Ernest Renan
Also called: Ernst Renan, Renan · Topic: The Rise of Nationalism in Europe · NCERT: Class 10, Ch 1 "The Rise of Nationalism in Europe"
Meaning
Ernest Renan (1823–92) was a French philosopher. In 1882 he gave a famous lecture at the Sorbonne in Paris called 'What is a Nation?'. He said a nation is not built on a common language, race, religion or territory. Instead, a nation is 'a large-scale solidarity', meaning people feel bound together and choose to stay together.
Example
In his 1882 lecture, Renan said a nation's existence is 'a daily plebiscite'. A plebiscite is a direct vote by all the people. So he meant that people keep choosing their nation every day. He also said nations are a guarantee of liberty.
Don't confuse with
- Johann Gottfried Herder: a German thinker who placed the nation in the culture of the common people (das volk), its folk songs and folklore. Renan rejected language and race as the basis and stressed the people's will instead.