"The Sokol Movement" — A Tribute to the National Revival and Culture of the Czechoslovak Nation MILADA LEJKOVÁ-KOEPPL The period of cultural and political progress of the Czechoslovak nation in the nineteenth century is generally known as the time of its national revival. Until then the nation was dying, culturally and nationally, and did not truly exist as a sovereign state. But by the twentieth century, it had regained its independence and taken its place among the progressive and independent nations of the world. A great deal of credit for the change belongs to the "Sokol movement". To study this sociological process, one must examine the part played by the whole nation, as well as the roles of some leading individuals, although one must admit that actually the national revival of Czechs and Slovaks was mainly influenced by individuals. Nevertheless, one must recognize the importance of the internal response, the subconscious will, and the patriotic feelings of the whole nation. The founder of the Czechoslovak republic Dr. Tomás G. Masaryk, recognized several periods in the process of national revival which he identified according to their leaders' names. But he did not underestimate the importance of the social revival in progress. Many of the basic elements of the Czechoslovak national program are to be found in the program of individual revivalists. Among the most important leaders here were Josef Jungmann, Ján Kollár, Josef Safafík, Frantisek Palacky, Karel Havlicek Borovsky, and Miroslav Tyrs. Each of them - and many others - played an immense part in the formation of cultural progress and the later political independence. This study primarily concerns Dr. Miroslav Tyrs and his immortal work, the Sokol movement. Dr. Miroslav Tyrs, a professor at the Charles University in Prague, a commentator on culture, and an aesthetician, realized from the very beginning that the real executive power of the national program, the carrier of the whole tradition and character of the nation, are people - people who, therefore, must be properly brought up, educated, and well 1464 Milada Lejkova-Koeppl prepared for the duties of citizenship. In his revival efforts, Tyrs carried on the ideas of Borovsky and Palacky, but, at the same time, enriched the Czechoslovak national program with a new element: The importance of harmony between the physical and mental education of every in- dividual. To him, physical education seemed the only way to achieve "a complete man", well grown, nobly mature through his reason, feel- ings, will power, and physical fitness. He tried to find a practical and effective way to develop the self-consciousness of all the social classes. His Sokol movement served this purpose, and therein lies the great value of Tyrs' contribution to the education of our nation. He constructed his Sokol philosophy and ideas on practical philo- sophical fundamentals and on the understanding of the practical needs of the revival process in the nation. He presented the ancient Greeks as examples, following especially the tradition of the philosopher Plato and his belief that a body without training is like a mind without educa- tion, without value. Tyrs, however, in his demands for emotional and progressive culture, advanced even further. "To the heritage of romanticism he added the philosophy of Schopenhauer, who became very close to him because of his vitalistic and voluntaristic philosophy, so different from other abstract philosophers of that day." 1 It is interesting that in the beginning Tyrs was mostly attracted by Schopenhauer's pessimism, but later he found a still more profound harmony in his aesthetics when he tried to brighten his pessimistic mood in an artistic ideal, mainly in classical art. This refinement re- presented an important change in Tyrs' life and character. Tyrs' philosophy and the way to its final formulation were examined by others many times, very often with different resulting opinions. But on one point all agree: That Schopenhauer had a great influence upon Tyrs. As for Tyrs, "he never denied his enthusiasm and admiration for Schopenhauer's philosophy." 2 The center of Tyrs' thoughts - like that of other national revivalists - was the principle that a nation is a fundamental social unit. The history of the world was to him the history of nations. As an ardent disciple of the new renaissance movement, he saw the main task of his nation in the aesthetic movement, as did the ancient Greeks. He came to the conclusion that the ideal of the Czech nation should be an ideal of a perfectly harmoniously developed man. Only then could the nation 1 Josef Censky, Ph. Dr. Miroslav Tyrs (Praha, Osveta, 1884). 2 See Tyrs' articles, "Duse", "Egoismus", and "Heuristika", Riegruv naucny slovnik, II. The Sokol Movement 1465 find its place in the history of nations. The aesthetic element forms a fundamental part of his Sokol system. Schopenhauer's philosophy - leading to a certain passivity - could not fully satisfy Tyr§ in the end because it contradicted his desire for action. Therefore, before the founding of the Sokol organization, he completed his first preparatory draft of principles with some addi- tional thoughts on the Darwinian theory - quite new and revolutionary at that time. However, he did not accept this theory strictly from the natural science standpoint; he applied it to his philosophy of national history. "Tyrs accepted for his philosophy some thoughts from Darwin without leaving some principles of Schopenhauer's philosophy." 3 He was well aware that "the battle of existence and survival" is a necessary condition of progress and that the stronger and more resistant individual wins. Tyrs believed that, for a small Czech nation, large mate- rial defenses would be useless if the nation lacked moral character. Therefore, he aimed at the moral revival of the Czech individual, for a new, harmoniously developed and physically fit individual when he said: "We must preserve our nation in that general vigor, that does not allow a nation to die, in that steady and fresh strength, in that physical, spiritual and moral health that will not allow any decay to set in, and no stagnation or reaction, those worst, even criminal actions perpetrated upon nations." 4 Tyrs strongly believed that only the nation which possesses will power, enthusiasm, and moral health can conquer a superior power in the struggle for life. In this transfer or adaptation of Darwin's theory to the historical progress of his nation appears Tyrs' independence in philo- sophic thoughts. His originality also lies in the fact that he was not satisfied with lifeless thoughts, but demanded principles which could be transformed into practice. Tyrs arrived at the conviction of physical and mental identity, that is, philosophy of "identity".5 After Tyrs realized the importance of physical education for the cultural progress of nations, he looked for a way to realize his aesthetic 3 V. Havlicek, "Vliv Darwinovy nauky na TyrSe", Sokolsky sbornik, VII (Praha, COS, 1923). As a member of the Educational Board of COS, he analyzes outside philosophical influence on Sokol ideology. 4 Miroslav Tyr5, "Nas ukol, smer a cil", Sokol (Praha, Sokol Prazsky, 1871). Translated into English by James L. Cihak, under the title Our Task, Aim and Goal (Chicago, ASO, 1958). In this study the Sokol ideological credo was fully expressed. 5 Josef Tvrdy, "Jest Tyrsova filosofie positivismem?" Tyrsuv sbornik, I (Praha, COS, 1920). Study on Tyrs' belief in some of Schopenhauer's and Darwin's philosophical principles. 1466 Milada Lejkova-Koeppl ideals for man. Such an ideal man would not misuse his all-round physical fitness for his own pursuits nor to suppress others, but for a life of brotherhood and general benefit, only. Tyrs' philosophy was dif- ferent from the other philosophers' efforts toward a superman be- cause of his views on social progress and the influence of physical cul- ture on this progress. Tyrs defined historical progress from the stand- point of society and nations. Therefore, his ideal man - a Sokol - had a social and democratic character. Tyrs' correct conclusion that physical education was a powerful means and a part of general cultural en- deavour, was proved, not only by Sokol education and its influence upon the Czechoslovak national life, but later by the results of scientific research demonstrating the dependence of physical condition upon the mental state and vice versa. Dr. Maurice Boigey, a French scientist and physician, stated in one of his numerous theses that "a systematical training increases not only the output of a greater muscular exertion but it perfects even those mental and moral qualities like will power and the ability of coordina- tion. Nobody doubts the great value of strong will power. The result of good coordination is a better utilization of physical strength, increased accuracy and self-confidence, courage, and finally a desire for greater accomplishment. If the training is carried on in groups, then we have to add competition, effort for a greater result, impulse for more beauty and development, and of course: A necessary personal discipline and regard for society. The value of every man is expressed in a totality of his physical, mental and moral qualities, inherent as well as acquired. If he practises these qualities upon his fellow man, family, community and state, the total sum of such qualities had to be regarded as a general value - a culture." 8 Tyrs worked out his ideological and organizational concepts very thoroughly and, therefore, the formation of the Sokol society was not an event which happened by mere chance. It represented a profound belief and endeavour to bring - in a practical way - a revival of the national esteem and culture to all strata of society, to every individual. Now, after many years, it is possible to comprehend fully the pro- gressiveness and the superior thoughts of Tyrs' philosophy which be- came a part of the foundation of the nation.