一、文化哲學的興起和發展是近二世紀之事，這二世紀所關懷的文化問題，相當平均地分由歷史哲學和社會哲學各佔一個世紀，十九世紀看重歷史哲學，二十世紀關懷社會哲學。二、歷史哲學探討文化「縱」的發展，社會哲學專注文化「橫」截面的內涵。「縱」的歷史哲學不但檢討過去的人類文化現象，還要設法以過去經現在直透未來；「橫」的社會哲學不但要透視文化現象，還要認清文化本質，用以「預測」未來走向。三、湯恩比(A. J. Toynbee)的《歷史研究》(A Study of History)和史賓格勒(O. Spengler)的《西方的沒落》(Der Untergang des Abendlandes)展現了英、德二文化對歷史社會見解的異和同，同時也刻劃了文化的種種。四、本文嘗試以湯、史兩位史家以及其著作內涵的社會觀來探討文化哲學的意含。其實，兩者都堅信宗教文化在歷史分段中最長，在社會內涵中最高貴。論文在中西文化比較中，亦實現此一意含。

The emergence and development of the Philosophy of Culture occurred only in the past two centuries. The investigation of cultural problems are the concern of the Philosophy of History and Philosophy of Society, with each occupying a century, the former in the 19th century and the latter in the 20th century. The Philosophy of History examines the vertical dimension of development, while the philosophy of Society examines the horizontal dimension. The former studies past culture, and attempts to penetrate the future too. The latter not only look into the social phenomena, but also the cultural essence in order to “predict” the future. A.J. Toynbee’s A Study of History and A. Spengler’s Der Untergang das Abendlandes analyze various aspects of culture, and reveal the similarities and differences of British and German cultures on views of history and society. This article attempts to discuss the meaning of Philosophy of culture based on the social perspectives of the authors mentioned and the contents of their writings. Both of them believe that religious culture is the most lasting in history and the most superior and richest in social contents. Such implication is also realized in our East-West cultural comparison.