Philosophy of History: A Guide for Students

by M.C. Lemon

This guide provides a comprehensive survey of historical thought since ancient times. Its clear terminology and lucid argument will make it an invaluable source for students and teachers alike.

Genres: History, Philosophy

461 pages, Paperback

First published March 27, 2003

Reviews

[Cengiz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This a stundent's guide for beginners who want to learn about philosophy of history. The writer divides the book into two sections; the first speculative and second analytic philosophy of history.
In spite of many details, it is exciting to learn new about philosophy of history. In the ancient Greeks and Romans the history was understood as cyclical and recurrent. Judeo-Christian tradition suggested that history had a meaning and it was towards salvation which would redeem men from his/her sins that they commited. Therefore history was not cyclical and permanently repeates itself but linear and progressive. Modern science and philosophy mantained the same linear and progressive tradition which was speculative. For the Englighteners, history change was possible and it construed through mind. They believed in reason and science; these factors would provide man with progress. Hegel got rid the philosophy from its religious origins and secularized philosophy of history. For him historical chnage was dialectical and progressive. He tried to explain the history of the world as the progress of mind. Because for Hegel the civilization was a result of development of reason- geist. At the end of this historical change, subjective and objective minds would meet and spirit would flourish through freedom. What was actual was rational and what was rational was actual' for him. So bourgeis civilization and nation-state would be the final stage where men would reach freedom.
Marx inherited Hegelian historical tradition which was progressive, dialectical and speculative. Marx's contribution was to explain historical change in the light of social progress. In toher words, for Max, driving force behind the historical change was class struggle. Contradiction between classes causes change. For Marx historical materialism was the way interpreting and explaining the world in a socio-economic context so as to give a direction to the future. As the saying goes by Marx, "all the philosophers hitherto have interpreted the world the point is to change it" So Marx's philosophy is revolutionary and future oriented. For him he who makes history is real man not imaginary, "“Men make their own history, but they do not make it as they please; they do not make it under self-selected circumstances, but under circumstances existing already, given and transmitted from the past.

[José Angel Hernández · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting read and the author did lots of research; however, It can be a slog because of all the name dropping, which is unavoidable in such an inquiry...