The Existential Dimension of Otto von Bismarck’s Personality as a Politician and Statesman

Abstract

The article examines the personality of Otto von Bismarck through the lens of the philosophy and ethics of existentialism. The study aims to identify the fundamental components of Bismarck’s political existence within the framework of the existential interpretation of freedom and the experience of “being-in-the-world,” conceptualized according to Martin Heidegger’s modes of time. Special attention is devoted to Bismarck’s categories of freedom and will, interpreted as manifestations of his existential self-realization and viewed through the methodological perspectives of historicism and psychologism.

The research emphasizes that Otto von Bismarck was not only the architect of German unification achieved “by iron and blood,” but also a political figure who decisively transformed the geopolitical landscape of Europe. His readiness to openly articulate his views, even when they placed him in a political minority, highlights the existential dimension of responsibility and self-determination that shaped his actions and ensured his political success.

The methodological foundation of the study integrates the principles of scientific objectivity, historicism, system analysis, and worldview pluralism. A combination of general scientific methods (analysis, synthesis, systematization) and specialized philosophical (dialectics, phenomenology, transcendental method, hermeneutics), ethical (humanism, objectivity, systemic approach), and historical approaches (retrospective, problem-chronological, historical-anthropological) enables a comprehensive exploration of Bismarck’s personality under specific historical conditions.

The study concludes that Bismarck’s political strategies, including his conflict with the Roman Catholic Church and support for Protestant Prussia, demonstrate a coherent existential position rooted in personal conviction and historical context, thus revealing the deeper nature of his political existence.