Descriptions of actions and their place in history

Elazar Weinryb

pp. 97-111

in: Yirmiahu Yovel (ed), Philosophy of history and action, Berlin, Springer, 1978

Abstract

It is generally accepted that the word "history" has a two-fold meaning. On the one hand, it refers to the course of past events which historians study. On the other hand, we use it to denote the written accounts of these events, namely, the products of historical inquiry. Philosophy of history which deals with history in the former sense is sometimes called 'speculative," while philosophy of history in the latter sense is called "analytical" or "critical."