What is History?What is History?An Introduction into the Theory of HistoryAn Introduction into the Theory of History

Prof. Dr. Georgi VerbeeckProf. Dr. Georgi Verbeeck

Maastricht UniversityMaastricht University

FASoS Department of HistoryFASoS Department of History

Georgi.Verbeeck@history.unimaas.nl Georgi.Verbeeck@history.unimaas.nl

History?History?

””things that happened in the past”things that happened in the past”

res gestaeres gestae

““investigating the things that investigating the things that happened in the past”happened in the past”

historia rerum gestarumhistoria rerum gestarum

The Appeal of History?The Appeal of History?

Historia magistra vitae?Historia magistra vitae?

The Past as a Foreign Country?The Past as a Foreign Country?

History of Historical WritingHistory of Historical Writing

Antiquity (Herodotus – Thycidides)

Rome : in service of the Empire

Middle Ages

Renaissance and Early Modern Times

Enlightenment and Romanticism

Foundations of Foundations of Modern History WritingModern History Writing

‘ ‘bloss zeigen,bloss zeigen, wie es eigentlich gewesen wie es eigentlich gewesen …’…’ Historical-Filological MethodHistorical-Filological Method

(written sources)(written sources) ZeitgeistZeitgeist and and VolksgeistVolksgeist Paradox within HistoricismParadox within Historicism

Relativism versus DeterminationRelativism versus Determination

Leopold von RankeLeopold von Ranke (1795 – 1886) (1795 – 1886)

MethodenstreitMethodenstreitin the German Historical Sciencesin the German Historical Sciences

Historicism versus PositivismHistoricism versus Positivism “…“…wie es eigentlich wie es eigentlich

geworden istgeworden ist…”…” SozialSozial- versus - versus PolitikgeschichtePolitikgeschichte Materialism - MarxismMaterialism - Marxism

Karl LamprechtKarl Lamprecht (1856 – 1915)(1856 – 1915)

Writing History : How?Writing History : How?

1. Facts1. Facts2. Knowledge2. Knowledge

3. Interpretation 3. Interpretation 4. Explanation 4. Explanation

1. Facts

Problems of determination

2. Knowledge2. Knowledge

Empiricism (induction)Empiricism (induction)– Francis BaconFrancis Bacon

Rationalism (deduction)Rationalism (deduction)– René DescartesRené Descartes

3. Interpretation (a)3. Interpretation (a)

“King Louis was murdered by the mob.”“Citizen Capet was sentenced to death and executed.”

“The French Revolution meant the end of the Old Regime.”

3. Interpretation (b)3. Interpretation (b)

“Auschwitz was a unique event in the history of mankind.”“Auschwitz was a normal event in the history of mankind.”

Explanation Explanation 1: Cause1: Cause

Positivism (Auguste Comte)Positivism (Auguste Comte)– Covering Law Model (CLM)Covering Law Model (CLM)

ProbabilismProbabilism

ExplanationExplanation2 : Intention2 : Intention

HermeuticsHermeutics VerstehenVerstehen (empathy) (empathy) Problems of determining intentionsProblems of determining intentions

ExplanationExplanation3 : Narrative3 : Narrative

NarrativismNarrativism Gustav Droysen, Johan HuizingaGustav Droysen, Johan Huizinga Modernism and PostmodernismModernism and Postmodernism

AnachronismAnachronism