HISTORISME, BEHAVIORISME ET THEORIE

In: Acta politica: AP ; international journal of political science ; official journal of the Dutch Political Science Association (Nederlandse Kring voor Wetenschap der Politiek), Band 6, Heft 1, S. 45-72

Abstract

Pol'al sci & the sci of history may profitably be compared as regards their nature & function. A careful scrutiny of writings on history will reveal that the term 'historical understanding' is employed in 2 cliff senses: (1) It is used to indicate the author's relativating attention for the determining concrete context in which the actual situation has found its origin. (2) It also occurs where the author wishes to draw attention to the discrepancy between the determining actual situation on the one hand, & on the other what ought to be seen as general norms, eg such values as truth & beauty. The notion of this discrepancy will draw man towards a free creative transcendance of the actual situation. Of these 2 approaches the 1st is commonly termed the sci'fic historical one, the 2nd the systematic, theoretical, or philosophical one. The relation between these 2 poles of historical knowledge is discussed as it appears in the thought of Friedrich Meinecke, Jan Romein & A. de Simon. The mutual relation within historical studies between sci'fic historical methods on the one side & the theory of philosophy of history on the other, merits further thought. Such reflection will help us to spot the false dilemma between a historical knowledge that is irrelevant to man, & one that has been reduced to a dogmatic apology of an engagement which is merely based on the emotions. Modified IPSA.