History Philosophy: Critical Essays: Critical Essays

Author: Gruenehl
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2003-07-01
Features: This book discusses the emergence and development of the philosophy of history, delves into the modern philosophical views of history represented by thinkers such as D'Holbach and Condorcet, Hegel and Marx, classifying them into two opposing types: the "Theory of Perfection" and the "Millennial Theory." It points out that the research in modern and contemporary philosophy of history essentially holds an evolutionary stance and raises questions about it.
What does the discussion about the "meaning of history" imply? Past critics were not always convinced that the rise and fall of human history had any meaning. However, modern perspectives have emerged from the belief that history can be meaningful as long as it is heading somewhere or approaching something. In other words, the concept of progress has been embedded in contemporary philosophy of history. But perhaps there is no "goal" at all, and the idea of progress should be discarded. Yet in a civilization dominated by scientific development and a belief in intellectual progress, can this idea be eliminated? This book discusses the emergence and development of the philosophy of history, delves into the modern philosophical views of history represented by thinkers such as D'Holbach and Condorcet, Hegel and Marx, classifying them into two opposing types: the "Theory of Perfection" and the "Millennial Theory." It points out that the research in modern and contemporary philosophy of history essentially holds an evolutionary stance and raises questions about it.