ENGLISH

Human Nature and Historical Knowledge: Hume, Hegel and Vico

By Leon Pompa

Book information

Year
1990
ISBN
9780521381376, 9780511597930, 0521892201, 0521381371, 0511597932, 9780521892209
LCC
D16.8 .P5553 1990
Open Library ID
OL2227146M
Language
english
Format
DJVU
Filesize
1 MB (1240626 bytes)
Pages
242\242
Topic
History
DPI
600
Time added
2011-06-04 13:46:07

Description

This book presents a study of the nature and conditions of historical knowledge, conducted through a study of the relevant theories of Hume, Hegel and Vico. It is usually thought that in order to establish historical facts, we have to have a theory of human nature to support our arguments. Hume, Hegel and Vico all subscribed to this view, and are therefore discussed in detail. Professor Pompa goes on to argue that there is in fact no way of discovering anything about human nature except through historical investigation. It is necessary therefore to find a different way of thinking about how we discover historical facts. This is done in the last chapter where, in opposition to almost all present views, it is argued that we must have a framework of inherited knowledge before we can believe in anything which results from historical enquiry.

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