Comparison of humanity and race concepts in Herder

This study aims to investigate the relationship between humanity, which is one of the basic concepts of Herder's philosophy, and race and racism. The emergence of theoretical discussions about the concept of race is the age of enlightenment. Many philosophers during the enlightenment age showed a racist attitude. However, Herder criticised enlightenment thought itself and opposed colonialism and the concept of race. Despite this, in some aspects, there are discussions that Herder's thoughts have reached to a racism. Herder thinks that the aim of people is only to reach humanity. Humanity represents a "humanity" which belongs only to the human communities themselves. Herder thinks that human nature also emerges in accordance with humanity. Human nature is formed by humanity and determined by all kinds of relationships established in its own society. In other words, according to Herder, the humanity of each society is unique. Therefore, human nature will appear in every society as specific to that society. However, the humanity and human nature of each society is a harmonious part of the humanity of human history in general. In the first part of the thesis, the concepts of race and racism, colonialism, marginalisation, Eurocentrism, ethnocentrism, antisemitism and new racism are discussed. In the second part, the concept of nature, historical aspects, criticism of enlightenment, human nature, concept of public, political theory, ethnocentrism, colonialism and humanity in Herder's thought in relation to the context of the concept of humanity and race. Herder rejected colonialism and racism. However, he refered some tribes as wild and primitive. Thus, it would be able to legitimate that Europeans intervene in these societies and enable them to reach humanity. Herder did not aim to compare people with their humanity. He considered people as the same species but claimed that they had different human natures. As a result, in line with the aim of the study, it can be said that the concept of humanity based on Herder's pluralist understanding of human nature and the distinctions he made while explaining differences can be associated with racism.