Historical Experience: Essays on the Phenomenology of History

A collection of recent essays on the philosophy and theory of history, drawing inspiration from the continental-phenomenological tradition and exploring how we experience historical events. Phenomenology focuses on how anything that exists or may exist is given, how it enters our experience, and what our experience of it is like.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 176 pages
Publication date: 26 September 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive volume presents a collection of recent essays on the philosophy and theory of history, a field of vibrant interdisciplinary discourse and research. Historians, philosophers, and theorists of culture and literature have made significant contributions to this dynamic field. The author, trained in philosophy, draws inspiration primarily from the continental-phenomenological tradition, which includes the influences of Husserl, Heidegger, Merleau-Ponty, and Ricoeur. This philosophical background offers a distinctive perspective on the topics discussed.

Phenomenology, in contrast to other philosophical approaches such as metaphysics and epistemology, focuses on the nature of experience. It seeks to understand how anything that exists or may exist is given, how it enters our experience, and what our experience of it is like. In essence, phenomenology is about experience. At first glance, this approach may seem ill-suited to history. In our language, "history" typically refers to either past events or our knowledge of what happened. We cannot directly experience past events, and our understanding of them must be derived from various sources such as memory, testimony, and physical traces. However, the author argues that we do indeed experience historical events, and these essays explore how this is possible.

The book is organized into three parts: Historicity, Narrative, and Time, Teleology and History, and Embodiment and Experience. Each part explores different aspects of the philosophy and theory of history from a phenomenological perspective. Historicity examines the nature of historical events and their significance for understanding the present. Narrative explores the role of storytelling in shaping our understanding of history and the ways in which narratives can both reflect and influence historical events. Time, Teleology, and History explores the temporal dimensions of history, the concept of teleology, and the relationship between history and the future. Embodiment and Experience examines the role of the body and the senses in shaping our experience of history and the ways in which historical events can be embodied and experienced through the senses.

This volume is an invaluable resource for those interested in experience from a philosophical and historical perspective. It provides a comprehensive exploration of the issues and challenges that arise at the intersection of these two fields, and offers insights into the ways in which phenomenology can contribute to our understanding of history. Whether you are a historian, philosopher, or simply someone with an interest in the study of experience, this book will provide you with a wealth of knowledge and ideas.

Weight: 302g
Dimension: 155 x 234 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367752989