From the perspective of mere representation, the external world always remains only a phenomenon.
The knife of historical relativism... which has cut to pieces all metaphysics and religion must also bring about healing.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Historical relativism challenges traditional beliefs, but it can also lead to understanding and healing.
In this quote, Wilhelm Dilthey suggests that the concept of historical relativism, which questions fixed truths in metaphysics and religion, has the potential not only to dismantle established ideas but also to foster healing and understanding. By critically examining and breaking down such beliefs, individuals may find new ways to comprehend their existence and relationships with the world, leading to a transformative experience.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a lecture on philosophical thought, I could reference this quote to discuss the impact of historical perspectives on personal beliefs.
More from Wilhelm Dilthey
All quotes βAny theory intended to describe and analyze socio-historical reality cannot restrict itself to the human spirit and disregard the totality of human nature.
The sciences which take socio-historical reality as their subject matter are seeking, more intensively than ever before, their systematic relations to one another and to their foundation.
All science is experiential; but all experience must be related back to and derives its its validity from the conditions and context of consciousness in which it arises, i.e., the totality of our nature.
If there were a science of human beings it would be anthropology that aims at understanding the totality of experience through structural context.
The individual always realizes only one of the possibilities in his development, which could always have taken a different turning whenever he had to make an important decision.
Similar quotes
All man's troubles come from not knowing how to sit still in one room.
Though we feel we can choose what we do, our understanding of the molecular basis of biology shows that biological processes are governed by the laws of physics and chemistry and therefore are as determined as the orbits of the planets.
There is no way of salvation except through the cross of Christ.
I'm ex-player, ex-technical director, ex-coach, ex-manager, ex-honorary president. A nice list that once again shows that everything comes to an end.
The Greeks possessed a knowledge of human nature we seem hardly able to attain to without passing through the strengthening hibernation of a new barbarism.
To some extent, we've always had an admiration for extroversion in our culture. But the extrovert ideal really came to play at the turn of the 20th century when we had the rise of big business.