Single Idea 5286

[catalogued under 25. Social Practice / E. Policies / 5. Education / d. Study of history]

Full Idea

Most historians see in history just the political actions of princes and states, religious and all sorts of theoretical struggles, and in particular in each historical epoch have had to share the illusion of that epoch.

Gist of Idea

Most historians are trapped in the illusions of their own epoch

Source

K Marx / F Engels (The German Ideology [1846], §1.B)

Book Reference

Marx,K./Engels,F.: 'The German Ideology', ed/tr. Arthur,C.J. [Lawrence and Wishart 1985], p.60


A Reaction

Is it an illusion of our epoch that we share the illusions of our epoch? It seems unfair to say that Marx and Engels can see beyond the illusions of their epoch, but some historian writing about the Wars of the Roses can't. Princes were important.