La Renaissance Italienne et la Philosophie de l'Histoire (The Italian Renaissance and the Philosophy of History) is a book by Émile Gebhart, a French historian and philosopher, first published in 1888. In this work, Gebhart explores the relationship between the Italian Renaissance and the development of historical thought. He argues that the Renaissance marked a turning point in the way people thought about the past, and that this new way of thinking had a profound impact on the development of Western civilization.
Gebhart identifies three main factors that contributed to the Renaissance's new approach to history:
- The rediscovery of classical texts: The Renaissance saw a renewed interest in the works of ancient Greek and Roman historians, such as Herodotus, Thucydides, and Polybius. These texts introduced new ideas about the nature of history and the role of the historian.
- The rise of individualism: The Renaissance was also a time of great individualism, as people began to question traditional authorities and to assert their own values and beliefs. This new individualism was reflected in the way that historians approached their subjects, as they became more interested in the lives and motivations of individual actors.
- The growth of a critical spirit: The Renaissance was also characterized by a growing critical spirit, as people began to question the validity of traditional beliefs and to demand evidence to support claims. This critical spirit led historians to subject their sources to more rigorous scrutiny and to develop new methods for evaluating historical evidence.
Gebhart argues that these three factors combined to create a new way of thinking about history that was more objective, more critical, and more focused on the individual. This new approach to history had a profound impact on the development of Western civilization, as it helped to lay the foundations for the modern study of history.
In addition to these general trends, Gebhart also discusses the work of a number of individual Renaissance thinkers who made important contributions to the philosophy of history. These include:
- Niccolò Machiavelli: Machiavelli is best known for his political treatise The Prince, but he also wrote a number of important works on history. In these works, Machiavelli argued that history is a cycle of violence and bloodshed, and that the only way for a ruler to maintain power is to be ruthless and cunning.
- Francesco Guicciardini: Guicciardini was another Florentine historian who wrote extensively on the political events of his time. In his work, Guicciardini emphasized the importance of human nature and fortune in shaping historical events.
- Giovanni Battista Vico: Vico is considered by many to be the father of modern historiography. In his Scienza Nuova (New Science), Vico argued that history is a product of human creativity, and that it can be understood through the study of language, myth, and law.
Gebhart's La Renaissance Italienne et la Philosophie de l'Histoire is a classic work of scholarship that has been influential in the field of history for over a century. It is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the development of historical thought or in the history of the Italian Renaissance.
Here are some additional points to note:
- Gebhart's work is written in a clear and engaging style, and it is still worth reading today despite being over a century old.
- Gebhart's book is a good starting point for anyone who wants to learn more about the philosophy of history.
- The book is available in a number of different languages, including French, English, and Italian.
