Psychology Dictionary of ArgumentsHome![]() | |||
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Universal history: Universal history deals with the history of mankind as a whole. It examines the connections and interactions between the various cultures and civilizations of the world. See also history, world history, historiography, cultures, civilization._____________Annotation: The above characterizations of concepts are neither definitions nor exhausting presentations of problems related to them. Instead, they are intended to give a short introduction to the contributions below. – Lexicon of Arguments. | |||
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Hans-Georg Gadamer on Universal History - Dictionary of Arguments
I 206 Universal History/Gadamer: Wealth of individual appearances is not only the distinction of Greek life, it is the distinction of historical life in general, and this is what makes the value and meaning of history. The anxious question about the meaning in this spectacle of glorious victories and horrible downfalls, which upsets the human heart, should thus find an answer. It is the merit of this answer (>History/Historism) that with its humanistic ideal no particular content is thought, but rather the formal idea of the greatest diversity underlies it. Such an ideal is truly universal. For it cannot be fundamentally shaken by any experience of history, by any frailty of human things, however disturbing. History has a meaning in itself. What seems to speak against this meaning - the transience of all earthly things - is in fact its very reason. For in the transitoriness itself lies the secret of the inexhaustible productivity of historical life. The question now is how the unity of world history can be thought of and the knowledge of it justified under this standard and formal ideal of history. Let us first follow Ranke. "Every truly world-historical action, which never consists unilaterally of mere annihilation, but rather knows how to develop a future in the fleeting moment of the present, contains within itself a full and immediate sense of its indestructible value"(1). 1. Ranke, Weltgeschichte IX, 270._____________Explanation of symbols: Roman numerals indicate the source, arabic numerals indicate the page number. The corresponding books are indicated on the right hand side. ((s)…): Comment by the sender of the contribution. Translations: Dictionary of Arguments The note [Concept/Author], [Author1]Vs[Author2] or [Author]Vs[term] resp. "problem:"/"solution:", "old:"/"new:" and "thesis:" is an addition from the Dictionary of Arguments. If a German edition is specified, the page numbers refer to this edition. |
Gadamer I Hans-Georg Gadamer Wahrheit und Methode. Grundzüge einer philosophischen Hermeneutik 7. durchgesehene Auflage Tübingen 1960/2010 Gadamer II H. G. Gadamer The Relevance of the Beautiful, London 1986 German Edition: Die Aktualität des Schönen: Kunst als Spiel, Symbol und Fest Stuttgart 1977 |