The Historian and Progress in a Changing World

The provided text explores the complexities of historical study, challenging the notion of history as a simple collection of facts. It argues that historical facts are not objective entities but rather are selected and interpreted by historians, whose own present-day perspectives and values inevitably shape their understanding of the past. The author emphasizes that history is a dynamic interaction between the historian and the facts, asserting that both cause and interpretation are intertwined and fluid. Furthermore, the source discusses the concept of progress in history, suggesting that it is not a linear or unbroken path, and highlights the expanding role of reason in understanding and transforming both society and human behavior in the modern era. Ultimately, the text advocates for a self-aware approach to history where historians recognize their own biases and utilize their long-term vision to interpret the past for future understanding.

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