General

Re: Why are Austrians so proud of their nation?

Marko — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 02:20:58 GMT

Because they are chest-thumpers?

I didn't think you needed a reason for that. It's a matter of culture.

Also, despite similiar cultural eminence in the 19th century they don't share the baggage of the germans from the 1930s and 2nd world war.

Other than that Adolf Hitler was from Linz and that they had a war criminal for president [Kurt Waldheim] you mean?

Re: Why are Austrians so proud of their nation?

Conza88 — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 02:13:12 GMT

That was essentially a decade ago. I believe Australia is actually near the top atm.

Re: Why are Austrians so proud of their nation?

E. R. Olovetto — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 00:43:51 GMT

Loos helped Wittgenstein build a house. pic

This type of design was a response to the gaudy ornamental style of home furnishing that was the rage then. The whole concept of "form vs. function" came out of this period. I don't remember any architects mentioned besides Loos offhand.

Re: Why are Austrians so proud of their nation?

William — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 00:26:52 GMT

Cool, thanks for the suggestion, sounds like a good read. Also, I am not really a guy to know names of architects, but I have hunch Austria has had some top notch names in architecture. Any architect buffs out there know of any austrians?

Re: Why are Austrians so proud of their nation?

E. R. Olovetto — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 00:16:55 GMT

Loos, Schopenhauer, Kokoschka, Musil, Kraus come to mind too. Read Janik and Toulmin's Wittgenstein's Vienna for an idea what life was like there at the turn of the century. Schorske's Fin-de-Siecle Vienna isn't bad as well. I think Hoppe cites both of these at the beginning of his work.

Re: Why are Austrians so proud of their nation?

Clayton — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 23:51:25 GMT

Don't forget Godel!

Clayton -

Re: Why are Austrians so proud of their nation?

abskebabs — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 23:45:45 GMT

Also, despite similiar cultural eminence in the 19th century they don't share the baggage of the germans from the 1930s and 2nd world war.

Re: Why are Austrians so proud of their nation?

Naevius — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 23:36:32 GMT

Ah. Makes sense, now that I think about it.

Re: Why are Austrians so proud of their nation?

William — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 23:34:54 GMT

Haydn, Mozart, Schoenberg, Berg, Webern, Strauss, Schubert, Mahler, Bruckner, Kafka, Steiner, Trakl, Wittgenstein, Buber, Hayek, Mises, Freud among others maybe part of it. Vienna may also be one of the most beautiful cities in the world and the Alps may be one of the most beautiful mountain ranges in the world.

Why are Austrians so proud of their nation?

Naevius — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 22:37:28 GMT

In the thirteenth and final chapter of Democracy: The God That Failed (which I just finished reading--excellent book!), Hans Hermann Hoppe states that

In a recent survey, people of different nationalities were asked how proud they were to be American, German, French, etc., and whether or not they believed that the world would be a better place if other countries were just like their own. The countries ranking highest in terms of national pride were the United States and Austria.

He goes on to talk about the U.S. since it's actually relevant to his book, but like the author himself, I find the fact that the Austrians were second fascinating. I would have sooner expected a nation like France to claim second. So, my question is this: does anyone know why the men and women of Austria are so proud of their nation?