Why did Herder oppose explaining all human societies with the same abstract laws?

Johann Gottfried von Herder did not reject the idea of universal laws in nature and history; rather, he sought to reconcile the existence of general developmental principles with the unique integrity of individual cultures. His opposition to applying a single, abstract standard—often associated with Enlightenment rationalism—stemmed from his commitment to cultural relativism and historicism.1

Herder argued that each society possesses a distinct collective identity, or Volksseele ("ethnic soul"), which is expressed through its unique language, traditions, and history. He believed that:23

• Inherent Equality: No culture or historical age is inherently inferior to another; grading societies based on how closely they match a specific standard of rationality is a form of cultural chauvinism.2
• Contextual Understanding: Each culture must be studied and judged within its own context, as its "heart and soul" are embedded in its specific language and social institutions.23
• Intuitive Insight: The spiritual development of a people cannot be captured by purely rational, abstract processes; it requires an act of historical imagination and insight to grasp how a culture's art and institutions relate to its unique spirit.2