Explain the words Das Volk and Volksgeist

Answer : ‘Das volk’  is a word which comes from the German language. The meaning of this word is the common people or citizens of the country. On the other hand, ‘Volksgeist’ is also a word in the German language. The meaning of this word is the spirit of nationalism or patriotism. 

• Johann Gottfried Herder gives these definitions of these two words. 

• Johann Gottfried Herder was a thinker in Germany. 

• According to Johann Gottfried Herder, the culture of Germany was the best-suited culture for mediocre individuals, for which he used the word ‘Das volk’. 

• He also said that the country’s spirit lies in its culture, for which he used the word ‘Volksgeist’.