Can human history as a whole be interpreted in any meaningful way? Has there been real progress between stone age and space age? Does history repeat itself? Is there evidence of divine providence? Questions such as these have fascinated thinkers, and some of the greatest philosophers, notably Kant and Hegel, have turned their minds to philosophical history. As a branch of philosophy, however, it has received little attention in the analytical tradition. This pioneering work aims to bring the methods of analytical philosophy to the critical examination of some of these questions. In addition to Hegel and Kant, the discussion ranges over the writings of Augustine, Machiavelli, and Alasdair MacIntyre. The ideas of historical progress, secularization and the decline of religion, cultural cycles, historical rupture and God in history are all subjected to careful analysis. Gordon Graham argues that, although unfashionable, the claim that history is the story of progress under the guidance of providence is one of the most plausible accounts of the shape of the past.
| ISBN: | 9780192892553 |
| Publication date: | 6th February 1997 |
| Author: | Gordon Regius Professor of Moral Philosophy, Regius Professor of Moral Philosophy, University of Aberdeen Graham |
| Publisher: | Oxford University Press |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Pagination: | 248 pages |
| Series: | OPUS |
| Genres: |
History: theory and methods |
Can human history as a whole be interpreted in any meaningful way? Has there been real progress between stone age and space age? Does history repeat itself? Is there evidence of divine providence? Questions such as these have fascinated thinkers, and some of the greatest philosophers, notably Kant and Hegel, have turned their minds to philosophical history. As a branch of philosophy, however, it has received little attention in the analytical tradition. This pioneering work aims to bring the methods of analytical philosophy to the critical examination of some of these questions. In addition to Hegel and Kant, the discussion ranges over the writings of Augustine, Machiavelli, and Alasdair MacIntyre. The ideas of historical progress, secularization and the decline of religion, cultural cycles, historical rupture and God in history are all subjected to careful analysis. Gordon Graham argues that, although unfashionable, the claim that history is the story of progress under the guidance of providence is one of the most plausible accounts of the shape of the past.
The Shape of the Past features in the following genres: History: theory and methods
The Shape of the Past is available in Paperback
The Shape of the Past was written by Gordon Regius Professor of Moral Philosophy, Regius Professor of Moral Philosophy, University of Aberdeen Graham and published by Oxford University Press
The Shape of the Past has 248 pages
Yes it is part of OPUS series
£38.69