Great Man theory

The Great Man theory is a philosophical belief first espoused by Scottish writer, philosopher, and historian Thomas Carlyle in his 1840 book Heroes, Hero-Worship, and the Heroic in History. The Great Man theory follows from a long tradition of hero worship in which the virtues and deeds of remarkable individuals are honored and emulated. Carlyle believed that world history was primarily the result of the deeds of great men—heroes, kings, politicians, poets, and others. He believed the greatness of these people was inborn rather than learned from society or developed through practice, and it superseded the flaws and pettiness of other contemporary people. Carlyle's Great Man enlightened his surroundings and rose to achieve great goals when and where he was most needed. Although the theory met with early support, by the middle of the twentieth century it had weakened under the weight of behavioral science and de-emphasis of classical heroic virtues.

Background

For thousands of years, people have been celebrating leaders, heroes, philosophers, artists, and other great figures who have risen from the masses and whose work helped to define the era in which they lived. In ancient times, this phenomenon was clear in many cultures. In ancient Greece, heroes were worshiped as demigods. Heroic figures, real and legendary, became the subjects of art, literature, and plays. They were religiously celebrated and emulated by groups called hero cults.

Educators taught children to foster the traits of these heroes, even those attitudes and behaviors that might be interpreted by modern societies as selfish, violent, or antisocial. Heroes such as Odysseus, an important figure in Homer's Iliad and protagonist of his Odyssey, displayed great bravery and cunning, though often in bloody pursuit of personal glory. The Greek hero worship set the stage for the complex relationship between Great Men and the societies in which they lived.

The growth of social philosophy in the nineteenth century prompted theorists to consider the role of heroes and other great figures in the world, and their impact on societies and the overall course of history. In philosophy as well as art, a revived appreciation for classical heroic virtues and the potential for the enlightened individual to achieve greatness made many people believe that great individuals, rather than communities, nations, armies, or any other collectives, most clearly dictated the fate of the world.

Overview

The creator and first main proponent of the Great Man Theory was Scottish writer, philosopher, and historian Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881). Carlyle was born in the later part of the Age of Revolutions and witnessed many shifts in European and world societies in art, war, culture, politics, and religion. His observations of the tumultuous times prompted him to write many essays, historical nonfiction works, satirical novels, and other works in which he examines the nature of the era.

In his work On Heroes, Hero-Worship, and the Heroic in History (1840), Carlyle notes that, in his studies of history, much of the motion and development have been brought about through the ideas and actions of remarkable individuals. In his view, world history can be seen most accurately and succinctly as a series of biographies of great men, rather than as an infinitely broader account of the struggles and successes of all people. The power of great individuals, Carlyle believed, dwarfed even the great advances in democracy and political equality achieved in the 1700s and 1800s.

Carlyle introduced the Great Man theory in On Heroes. This explains his beliefs as to how some people may rise above their contemporaries and overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles to achieve great goals for themselves and their followers. The basis of the Great Man theory is that some individuals are simply born to be great. Their special characteristics, conferred by nature, allow them to see beyond the errors and petty ways of their contemporaries and excel in one or many endeavors. These naturally gifted individuals assume leadership or fulfill other important duties when their people need them most. The great individuals earn and deserve their power based on their inborn qualifications. They not only lead in terms of diplomacy or invention; they also lead by example. Carlyle describes the heroic individual as a living fountain of light, whose presence delights and enlightens others. The heroic virtues and actions provide an invaluable model for lesser people to strive to follow, for the betterment of the society.

Carlyle believed the Great Man could come in a wide variety of forms. Some forms were outdated, such as the hero who was considered a divinity or prophet, due to advances in science that made such beliefs seem to Carlyle a relic of ancient times. Rather, Carlyle espoused multifaceted heroes, individuals who could be any combination of poets, warriors, politicians, thinkers, legislators, philosophers, conquerors, and kings. The greatest figures of all, Carlyle felt, were those whose natural wellsprings allowed them to take on multiple heroic roles, or at least have the potential to adopt them should the need arise.

Upon its introduction to the world, Carlyle's Great Man theory became widely popular. Many agreed that great individuals were the true engines of history and progress. In 1911, Encyclopedia Britannica honored the idea by creating a world history consisting mainly of biographies of heroic figures. However, detractors of Carlyle's theories formed their own ideas about the nature and role of great men.

Carlyle's top critic in this matter was English philosopher, scientist, and political theorist Herbert Spencer. Spencer condemned the Great Man theory on several accounts, claiming it was contrary to modern science and reason. Spencer's main disagreement related to the formation of great men. He felt that society, rather than nature, created great individuals and imbued them with the qualities that would make them powerful and influential. In that way, Spencer returned the scope of world history to the world at large in suggesting that society created its own leaders and heroes.

Both theories remained influential for several decades. In the mid-twentieth century, however, opinion shifted away from Carlyle's Great Man. Behavioral scientists learned more about how humans develop in relation to their surroundings, and provided evidence that the skills of great leaders may be more often learned than engrained at birth. Many social and cultural factors around the world were also de-emphasizing the notion of great individuals, turning focus more toward groups, relationships, and multiculturalism.

Bibliography

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Carlyle, Thomas. On Heroes, Hero-Worship, and the Heroic in History. James Fraser, 1841.

Cherry, Kendra. "What Is the Great Man Theory of Leadership?" VeryWell Mind, 6 Sept. 2023, www.verywellmind.com/the-great-man-theory-of-leadership-2795311. Accessed 29 Aug. 2024.

Cockshut, A. O. J. "Thomas Carlyle". Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 Jul. 2024, www.britannica.com/biography/Thomas-Carlyle. Accessed 29 August 2024.

Grethlein, Jonas. "The Emergence of 'Great Man Theory' in Classical Greece?" Histos, vol. 9, 2015, pp. 56–60. Newcastle University, research.ncl.ac.uk/histos/documents/2015RD06GrethleinonFerrario.pdf. Accessed 29 Aug. 2024.

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