Philosophy of History
- Arts
- 400 level
- 2 credit units
- 102 pages
- 14 units
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.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 208 hours
- Maths
- None
- Content
- Theoretical, case study, problem solving
- Practical work
- No
- Assignments
- Presentations
- Final Examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of PHL415, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
PHL415 · Unit 1: What business hath Philosophy with History?
The second issue has to do with the problems of selectivity unavoidable for the historian of any period or epoch. Here we take up the question of how the unavoidable selectivity of historical inquiry in terms of theme, location, scope, and scale influences the nature of historical knowledge.
What you should be able to do
- Explain the relationship between philosophy and history.
- Analyze the nature of historical inquiry and explanation.
- Evaluate different methodologies for studying history.
- Compare and contrast Continental and Anglo-American traditions.
- Assess the role of narrative and collective memory in history.
What it prepares you for
- Historian
- Archivist
- Museum Curator
- Policy Analyst
- Academic Researcher
- Education
- Government
- Museums
- Research Institutions
- Cultural Heritage
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 2: Methodologies and Approaches to the Study of History
Unit 1: Methodological Individualism and Methodological Holism in History
Understanding the nuances between methodological individualism and holism requires careful consideration of social structures and individual agency.
- Module 3: Dominant Traditions of Philosophy of History
Unit 3: The Linguistic Turn and the "New" Philosophy of History
The linguistic turn involves complex theories about the relationship between language, thought, and historical interpretation.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 42 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1Module 1: An Introduction to the Subject Matter: Philosophy of History
Unit 1: What business hath Philosophy with History? · 3 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 2Module 1: An Introduction to the Subject Matter: Philosophy of History
Unit 2: Representation and Action in History · 3 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 3Module 1: An Introduction to the Subject Matter: Philosophy of History
Unit 3: Social Identity, Memory and the Idea of Narratives · 3 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 4Module 1: An Introduction to the Subject Matter: Philosophy of History
Unit 4: Selective and Temporal Prejudices in Historical Documentation · 3 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 5Module 2: Methodologies and Approaches to the Study of History
Unit 1: Methodological Individualism and Methodological Holism in History · 3 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 6Module 2: Methodologies and Approaches to the Study of History
Unit 2: Hermeneutical Dimension to the Study of History · 3 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 7Module 2: Methodologies and Approaches to the Study of History
Unit 3: Historiography and the Study of History · 3 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 8Module 3: Dominant Traditions of Philosophy of History
Unit 1: Continental Philosophy of History · 3 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 9Module 3: Dominant Traditions of Philosophy of History
Unit 2: Anglo-American Philosophy of History · 3 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 10Module 3: Dominant Traditions of Philosophy of History
Unit 3: The Linguistic Turn and the "New" Philosophy of History · 3 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 11Module 4: Historiography and Philosophy of History in Contemporary Times
Unit 1: Significance of Philosophy of History and Contemporary World Events · 3 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 12Module 4: Historiography and Philosophy of History in Contemporary Times
Unit 2: Scholars and Historiography in the 20th Century · 3 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 13Module 4: Historiography and Philosophy of History in Contemporary Times
Unit 3: History and the Mythological Basis of Identities · 3 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 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..
Preparing for the exam
- Review key concepts from each module, focusing on definitions and applications.
- Create timelines of major philosophers and their contributions to the field.
- Practice essay questions on topics like objectivity, causation, and historical narratives.
- Compare and contrast the Continental and Anglo-American traditions.
- Analyze primary source excerpts from key historical texts.
- Form study groups to discuss complex topics and share insights.
Questions students ask about this course
What is PHL415 about?
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.
How many units does PHL415 have?
PHL415, Philosophy of History, has 14 units across 4 modules, over 102 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is PHL415?
PHL415 carries 2 credit units, at 400 level in Arts.
Is PHL415 hard?
PHL415 is rated intermediate level, with no mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical, case study and problem solving work.
How long does PHL415 take to study?
About 208 hours of study, spread across its 14 units.
How is PHL415 assessed?
PHL415 is assessed by Assignments, Presentations and Final Examination.
What can I do with PHL415?
Historian, Archivist, Museum Curator, Policy Analyst and Academic Researcher.