Historism

Historicism, also called historicism, is a school of thought in historiography and the philosophy of history that argues social, cultural, and legal phenomena can only be understood within their historical contexts. It opposes universal, ahistorical theories that claim to explain events or institutions by timeless laws. Instead, historicists contend that each era develops its own logic, norms, and motives, and that knowledge of the past is formed through careful reconstruction of sources and institutions.

Historicism emerged in 19th-century Germany as part of the historical school (Historismus) in law, political science, and cultural history. Key figures include the jurist Friedrich Carl von Savigny, who argued that law evolves with the nation and should be studied historically, and the historian Leopold von Ranke, who urged scholars to describe history as it actually happened through careful archival work. In philosophy of history, historicism was developed by writers such as Johann Droysen and, later, Wilhelm Dilthey, who emphasized the hermeneutic understanding of past meanings.

Core ideas include historical particularity, the rejection of universal laws of history, and the belief that institutions, ideas, and mentalities are products of specific historical contexts. Methodologically, historicists favor primary source research, critical interpretation, and a contextual reading of texts and events.

Criticisms have included charges of relativism and underemphasizing long-term social forces or universal human concerns. In the 20th century, historicism influenced cultural history and debates over historical explanation, context, and theory.