Wilhelm Dilthey

Wilhelm Dilthey was a German philosopher who emphasized the importance of understanding human experiences in historical context. He argued that to comprehend history, we must appreciate how past events and cultures shape human thought and behavior. Dilthey critiqued traditional scientific approaches to history, advocating for a "hermeneutic" method that involves interpreting texts and social practices to grasp their meanings. This perspective aligns with historical relativism, as it acknowledges that knowledge and values vary across contexts. By focusing on individual perspectives, Dilthey contributed to historicism, the idea that historical conditions influence ideas and events, shaping our understanding of causation in history.