Realism (Concept and Historical Research)

Author: Isaiah Berlin
Translator: Pan Rongrong, Lin Mao
Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-11-01
Features: Reality is the foundation of the Elizabeth Carter Murray Lectures, delivered on October 9, 1953, at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts, under the title Realism in History. Some of the issues discussed by Berlin had already been addressed in other articles, such as The Hedgehog and the Fox and The Concept of Historical Understanding. However, this is his explicit discussion of the topic, clearly deserving a place in this collection. Among the nine essays included in the book, Isaiah Berlin explores some of the core ideas that have dominated European historical development over the past three centuries, particularly tracing the rise and evolution of important intellectual currents such as nationalism, liberalism, and Marxism. Berlin's explored themes include: realism in history, political judgment, the history of socialism, the essence and influence of Marxism, the radical cultural revolution stirred by Romanticism, the concept of artistic responsibility in Russia, and the origins and practice of nationalism. These essays showcase Berlin's profound erudition and thought-provoking insights.