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PHL415Arts2 Unitsintermediate

Philosophy of History

This course deals with philosophical problems concerning the historian's attempt to understand and explain history. It examines questions such as whether history is a science and the possibility of objectivity in history. The course also explores the nature of historical explanations and the relationship between historiography and philosophy of history. It comprehends the view of the Anglo-American and Continental traditions of philosophy of history. Other issues such as causation in history are also examined.

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208h
Study Time
13
Weeks
16h
Per Week
none
Math Level
Course Keywords
Philosophy of HistoryHistoriographyHistorical ExplanationCausationObjectivity

Course Overview

Everything you need to know about this course

Course Difficulty

Intermediate Level
Builds on foundational knowledge
65%
intermediate
📚
Math Level
No Math
📖
Learning Type
Theoretical Focus

Course Topics

Key areas covered in this course

1

Nature of Historical Inquiry

2

Philosophical Method

3

Representation in History

4

Causation in History

5

Narrative and Collective Memory

6

Selectivity in Historical Documentation

7

Methodological Individualism and Holism

8

Hermeneutics and History

9

Continental Philosophy of History

10

Anglo-American Philosophy of History

11

Linguistic Turn in History

12

Myth and Identity

Total Topics12 topics

Ready to Start

No specific requirements needed

This course is designed to be accessible to all students. You can start immediately without any prior knowledge or specific preparation.

Assessment Methods

How your progress will be evaluated (3 methods)

Assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Presentations

Team-based learning and peer interaction

Group Work

Final Examination

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Career Opportunities

Explore the career paths this course opens up for you

Historian

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Archivist

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Museum Curator

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Policy Analyst

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Academic Researcher

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Industry Applications

Real-world sectors where you can apply your knowledge

EducationGovernmentMuseumsResearch InstitutionsCultural Heritage

Study Schedule Beta

A structured 13-week journey through the course content

Week
1

Module 1: An Introduction to the Subject Matter: Philosophy of History

3h

Unit 1: What business hath Philosophy with History?

3 study hours
  • •Read the introduction to philosophy of history.
  • •Understand the tools of philosophy and their usefulness for history.
  • •Examine the nature of historical inquiry and historians' motivations.
Week
2

Module 1: An Introduction to the Subject Matter: Philosophy of History

3h

Unit 2: Representation and Action in History

3 study hours
  • •Study the concept of representation and its impact on historical narratives.
  • •Analyze how historical personae are documented and the implications.
  • •Evaluate the reliability of causal inferences made by historians.
Week
3

Module 1: An Introduction to the Subject Matter: Philosophy of History

3h

Unit 3: Social Identity, Memory and the Idea of Narratives

3 study hours
  • •Understand the idea of narratives within the context of philosophy of history.
  • •Explore the role of memory in historical documentations.
  • •Examine how identity is built over time through shared history.
Week
4

Module 1: An Introduction to the Subject Matter: Philosophy of History

3h

Unit 4: Selective and Temporal Prejudices in Historical Documentation

3 study hours
  • •Familiarize yourself with the bias that informs the selection of an event in history.
  • •Understand how events are assessed from micro and macro-histories.
  • •Analyze the justification for focusing on one era or period but not another.
Week
5

Module 2: Methodologies and Approaches to the Study of History

3h

Unit 1: Methodological Individualism and Methodological Holism in History

3 study hours
  • •Understand the meaning of methodological individualism and its application to history.
  • •Understand the meaning of methodological holism and its relevance to history.
  • •Compare and contrast methodological individualism and holism.
Week
6

Module 2: Methodologies and Approaches to the Study of History

3h

Unit 2: Hermeneutical Dimension to the Study of History

3 study hours
  • •Understand the meaning of hermeneutics.
  • •Understand the idea of hermeneutical philosophy of history.
  • •Grasp the idea of hermeneutical philosophy of history from R.G. Collingwood's perspective.
Week
7

Module 2: Methodologies and Approaches to the Study of History

3h

Unit 3: Historiography and the Study of History

3 study hours
  • •Develop an understanding of how historiography as a method works.
  • •Understand the relevance of historiography in the study of history.
  • •Notice the flaws and ideological problems of historiography as a method.
Week
8

Module 3: Dominant Traditions of Philosophy of History

3h

Unit 1: Continental Philosophy of History

3 study hours
  • •Be familiar with the idea of continental philosophy of history.
  • •Understand the open-ended question concerning the direction and purpose of history.
  • •Be familiar with Hegel's philosophy of history.
Week
9

Module 3: Dominant Traditions of Philosophy of History

3h

Unit 2: Anglo-American Philosophy of History

3 study hours
  • •Understand the basic contention of the Anglo-American tradition of philosophy of history.
  • •Understand the place of causation in history.
  • •Discover the extent to which historical documentation may be deemed objective.
Week
10

Module 3: Dominant Traditions of Philosophy of History

3h

Unit 3: The Linguistic Turn and the "New" Philosophy of History

3 study hours
  • •Possess a deeper comprehension of the Anglo-American tradition of philosophy of history.
  • •Understand the idea of 'new' philosophy of history in the Anglo-American tradition.
  • •Understand the idea of facts as it relates to historical events.
Week
11

Module 4: Historiography and Philosophy of History in Contemporary Times

3h

Unit 1: Significance of Philosophy of History and Contemporary World Events

3 study hours
  • •Understand 20th century historical events.
  • •Understand the problems encountered by philosophers of history in recent times.
  • •Realise the usefulness of the philosopher of history amidst these challenges.
Week
12

Module 4: Historiography and Philosophy of History in Contemporary Times

3h

Unit 2: Scholars and Historiography in the 20th Century

3 study hours
  • •Appreciate the divergent perspectives to the idea of historiography among scholars.
  • •Understand how both the Anglo-American and Continental orientations each have scholars with divergent views on historiography.
  • •Start thinking critically and engaging the events that you encounter.
Week
13

Module 4: Historiography and Philosophy of History in Contemporary Times

6h

Unit 3: History and the Mythological Basis of Identities

3 study hours
  • •Realise that there is a function of myth in everyday belief.
  • •Understand that myths play an important role in the formation of ideas.
  • •Understand that identities have an underlying basis in myths embedded in a people's history.

Unit 4: 20th Century African Identity Question and the Philosophy of History

3 study hours
  • •Understand the meaning and nature of the history of the colors: 'white' and 'black'.
  • •How the idea of these colors are useful in the differentiation of people.
  • •How the African identity is wrongly shaped in history by these colors.

This study schedule is in beta and may not be accurate. Please use it as a guide and consult the course outline for the most accurate information.

Course PDF Material

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Study Tips & Exam Preparation

Expert tips to help you succeed in this course

1

Review key concepts from each module, focusing on definitions and applications.

2

Create timelines of major philosophers and their contributions to the field.

3

Practice essay questions on topics like objectivity, causation, and historical narratives.

4

Compare and contrast the Continental and Anglo-American traditions.

5

Analyze primary source excerpts from key historical texts.

6

Form study groups to discuss complex topics and share insights.

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