# Ernest Renan — The Great Illusion character guide

> Ernest Renan in The Great Illusion by Norman Angell.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Renan, M. Ernest Renan

**First appearance:** 0003-the-great-illusion

## Who they are

French philosopher and historian, cited on nationalism and identity.

## Relationships

### [Moltke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/characters/moltke)

_professional_

Renan, a historian, and Moltke, a military strategist, likely engaged in intellectual exchange on nationalism and war.

## In the story

### [The Psychological Case for War](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/chapters/i-the-psychological-case-for-war)

Quoted from 'La Réforme Intellectuelle et Morale', arguing that war is a condition of progress and a sting that prevents a country from going to sleep.

### [IV: Do the Warlike Nations Inherit the Earth?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/chapters/iv-do-the-warlike-nations-inherit-the-earth)

Mentioned among authorities who declare that war is the condition of progress, a view the chapter challenges using the example of Spanish America.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/characters/ernest_renan
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/characters