MEANING OF HISTORY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22444, 13 June 1936, Page 4 (Supplement)

MEANING OF HISTORY

A PHILOSOPHIC APPROACH The view that a purely objective approach to history is wrong is put forward by the Christian philosopher Professor Nicolas Berdvaev, in his latest book, "The Meaning of History." It is necessary in order to understand history to seek an inner profound and mysterious tie with the historical object. It is necessary for both the subject and the object to be*historical. The subject of historical knowledge should sense and discover what is essentially historical within himself.

"Each man," says Professor Bcrdyaev, "represents by virtue of his inner nature a sort of microcosm in which the whole world of reality and all the great historical epochs combine and co-exist. He is not merely a minute fragment of the universe, f>ut rather a world in his own right, a world revealed or hidden according as consciousness is more or less penetrating and extensive. In this development of selfconsciousness the whole history of the world is apprehended, together with all the great epochs which historical science investigates. Assuming an external stimulus for every profound act of remembrance, it should be possible for man to apprehend history within himself; be should bo able, for example, to discover within himself the profoundest strata of the Hellenic world and thus grasp the essentials of Greek history." The destiny of man's life on earth, says the author, is the theme of history. He claims that the tie between Christianity and history is such as exists in no other world religion. History is a progression capable of fulfillment; it possesses an inner significance and mystery, a point of departure and a goal, a centre and a purpose. The central event is the coming of Christ, linking God and man, human destiny being both terrestrial and celestial. Professor Berdyaev's book is one which will appeal more to the student of philosophic thought than to the general reader. "The Meaning of History," by Nicolns Berdynev, translated by George Renvey. (Bles.)