What distinguishes the historian from the collector of historical facts is generalization.
Edward Hallett CarrRead
History is the long struggle of man, by exercise of his reason, to understand his environment and to act upon it. But the modern period has broadened the struggle in a revolutionary way. Man now seeks to understand, and act on, not only his environment, but himself; and this has added, so to speak, a new dimension to reason and a new dimension to history.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on humanity's ongoing quest to understand both the world and ourselves, highlighting a shift in focus in modern history.
Edward Hallett Carr's quote emphasizes that the study of history is not just about understanding external environments but also about introspection and self-awareness. He suggests that in modern times, humanity's struggle has evolved to include understanding ourselves, which enhances our reasoning and changes the way we interpret history and our place in it.
Themes
HistorySelf-AwarenessUnderstandingReasonModernity
In practice
Example use cases
Discussing the significance of historical study in a philosophy class.
More from Edward Hallett Carr
All quotes →History consists of a corpus ascertained facts. The facts are available to the historian in documents, inscriptions and so on, like fish in the fishmonger's slab. The historian collects them, takes them home, and cooks and serves them in whatever style appeals to him.
Edward Hallett CarrRead
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