Zeitgeist
Zeitgeist is the characteristic outlook, values and mood of a particular historical period.
Full definition of Zeitgeist →:: COMPARE ::
ZeitgeistvsVolksgeist
The short answer
The pairing splits the axis. Zeitgeist is the spirit of an age, cutting across peoples; Volksgeist is the spirit of a people, persisting across ages. Herder's historicism leans on both at once, which is part of why the two get confused.
Side by side
| Aspect | Zeitgeist | Volksgeist |
|---|---|---|
| Belongs to | An era | A people |
| Cuts across | Nations | Centuries |
| Changes with | Time | Little |
| Risk | Over-generalising | Essentialising |
What each one means
Volksgeist
The contrast above sets out how Volksgeist differs from Zeitgeist on the points that actually matter.