VI, 104: “Wo sind in allen unsern Ländern Weisheitsschulen für den ehrwürdigen Theil unsers Publikum, den man das Volk nennet?” Herder says these are human beings who form the stock of the nation and distinguishes them from the nobility who would refuse to enlighten the _Volk_ that these might be the better utilized by the nobility and the better become the subjects of their tyranny. _Volk_ is here a class beneath the nobility, but ideally they are enlightened and made better by social contact and religious observances. VI, 301: “Zu dem schrieb er fürs Volk; ich verstehe unter diesem Namen die Menge derer, die sich nicht durch die Sprachlehre zu Deutschen gebildet hatten.” Herder here refers to Luther and the people for whom he wrote; these were the less cultured people. I, 298: “Weil damals noch nicht ein Unterschied zwischen der Sprache der Weisen und des Volks, zwischen der Denkart der Vornehmen und Geringen war; was Homer sang war die Sprache der Götter und zugleich eine veredelte Sprache des Pöbels.” Herder is speaking of Homer’s language and times. In the parallel the wise are the aristocratic; the _Volk_ are those of humble rank. IV _Volk_ meaning a special group characterized by primitivism in various forms. II, 25: “wie die Denkart des Volks mit der gelehrten Denkart neben und in einander laufe?” “Was giebt die Denkart und Sprache des Volks dem Philosophen, Dichter und Redner für Masse?” “Was hat dies für Vortheile und Nachtheile für die Weisen und dem Schüler des Volks?” Here Herder discusses two separate manners of thinking, designating one as being peculiar to the _Volk_ and the other as being that of the _Gelehrten_; one as belonging to the _Volk_, the other to the _Philosophen_, _Dichter_ and _Redner_. Here is a clear implication that the _Volk_ is a class apart from philosophers, poets, and orators; a class different from the sages. Not being wise and learned, they must be those upon whom artificial methods of training and culture have had less effect than upon the philosophers, poets, and orators. They are therefore more nearly the natural man.