This work is an essential introduction to the vast body of writing about history, from classical Greece and Rome to the contemporary world. M.C. Lemon maps out key debates and central concepts of philosophy of history placing principal thinkers in the context of their times and schools of thought. Lemon explains the crucial differences between speculative philosophy as an n enquiry into the course and meaning of history and analytic philosophy of history as relating to the nature and methods of history as a discipline. After providing a guide to the principal thinkers from pre-historical times to the present, the book goes on to present a critical summary of the leading issues raised by critical theorists of history, incorporating topics such as objectivity, ideology, historical explanation and narrative.

Introduction

Part I Speculative philosophy of history

1 Speculative philosophy of history: what is it and why study it?
2 Pre-classical ideas on 'history'
3 Classical Greek and Roman speculations on history
4 The Christian challenge to Graeco-Roman historical perspectives
5 A changing consciousness of history: the Renaissance and Machiavelli
6 An innovative interlude: from Machiavelli to Vico
7 Vico's philosophy of history
8 Speculative philosophy of history during the Enlightenment
9 Hegel's philosophy of history
10 Marx on history

Part II Analytic philosophy of history

11 Analytic philosophy of history: what is it and why study it?
12 The 'what is history?' debate
13 What is history for?

Part III The end of history?

14 The end of history? The postmodernist challenge
15 The End of History? Fukuyama's speculative philosophy of history