Historicism

From Geography

Historicism is a theory that says that history happened by law. So every situation is determent and can be explained by time and place. Every event follows logically upon a previous event (O, Kramsch, lecture, 28-09-2012). Most historical theories have a deterministic component, they assume that there is a final goal in history (teleology). Several religions use historicism and have this specific goal. This can be a final goal, but this also can be a goal which leads to another world, by example Christianity. This religion assumes a final judgement which will lead to 'the world to come'. Read here more about determinism.

Nowadays New Historicism is often used in literary research, this theory was developed by Post-structuralism. New historicism doens't assume that history is a given fact, but that literature is a reflection on the general discourse at that time and that place of that society or class. So literature and events can only be understood if they are put in a specific culture and historical context.

Several philosophers disagreed with this theory, like Michel Foucault, Edmund Husserl and Edward Said.

References

• Benaderingen Letterkunde-Literatuurwetenschap. (2012). Find date october 24rd 2012, via http://cf.hum.uva.nl/benaderingenlk/lw/newhis/lw-newhis-index.htm

• Historicism. (2012). Find date october 24rd 2012, on Wikipedia, via http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historicism
• Kramsch, O.T. (2012). Personal communication, Spatial Action: Classical Action Theories. September 2012.

Contributors

Published by SuzanneBleijenberg--SuzanneBleijenberg 15:54, 12 October 2012 (CEST)

Enhanced by Marjolein Kouwenhoven, october 24rd 2012