L’Histoire pour l’Histoire. Learning from the History of Historiography Joëlle Weis/University of Luxembourg @jojoweis The Ends of the Humanities/13-09-2017

(Heinrich Landahl, Deutsche Einheit, 1923) „Die Gegenwart frisst uns auf und lässt uns kaum Zeit, an die nähere und fernere Zukunft zu denken oder auch nur ihren eigenen tieferen Sinn zu begreifen, geschwiege denn, ihre Wurzeln in der Vergangenheit zu suchen. Ein breiteres historisches Interesse ist heute nicht mehr vorhanden [...] Das öffentliche Interesse gehört heute den Wirtschaftsfragen” (Heinrich Landahl, Deutsche Einheit, 1923)

(Jürgen Kocka, Die Zeit, 09/1972) Wozu noch Geschichte? „Einer breiteren Öffentlichkeit ist sie [die Geschichtswissenschaft] relativ gleichgültig geworden.“ (Jürgen Kocka, Die Zeit, 09/1972)

Über Relevanz „Die Zeit, da die Historie in einer sicheren Tradition oder in einer der großen politischen Bewegungen wie der nationalen oder liberalen so etwas wie einen Auftrag hatte, ist spätestens mit der Zeit der Weltkriege vorbei“ (Thomas Nipperdey, 1972)

What relevance does History have for today’s society? Problem: What relevance does History have for today’s society?

…that no one wants to hear anymore? Some Arguments… 1 …that no one wants to hear anymore?

We can’t escape History Only by understanding our past we can apprehend the present History is the glue that connects things through time History as„preamble“ of our present

History enables the individual to position itself and to act in time Humans have the need to integrate themselves in history Only History enables us to understand the „condition humaine“ History creates identity

History as „social science“ „history […] is about all that makes humanity human“ „historical data is the most vital evidence in in the unavoidable quest to figure out why our complex species behaves as it does in social settings” Peter N. Stearns, “Why Study History?” Papers of the American Historical Association, 1998

History teaches us how to behave correctly History and Ethics History teaches us how to behave correctly The preoccupation with history leads to a better future Georg Friedrich Brandes (1709-1791): „Wir wollen das, was geschehen ist, wissen, damit das, was geschehen soll, besser werde.”

Studying History teaches critical thinking Some newer thoughts: Studying History teaches critical thinking Historical thinking is crucial for natural sciences

Problems? Falsification of results We do not know what will be relevant in future Prevents creating distance

? What now?

The History of Historiography In a nutshell 2 The History of Historiography

Antiquity History was always part of the literary production, subject to rules and convention of the genre Inquiring author conducting investigation History as part of Rhetoric

Renaissance History will never be able to convey truth Development of methods to reach truthfulness Natural Sciences as Curiositas

René Descartes, Discours de la méthode (1637) „Le premier [précepte] estoit de ne recevoir jamais aucune chose pour vraie que je ne la connusse évidemment être telle“

Consequences Development of a critical-historical method History is able to create evidence, if the right method is employed Connection of History and Law

The 19th Century Leopold Ranke, Positivism Johann Gustav Droysen, Hermeneutics, history in the service of politics Wilhelm Dilthey, separation of natural sciences and humanities

The relevance trap 3

Loss of relevance Need for approval Claims of Objectivity / scientific nature Vulnerability Exploitation Relevance

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