How did Wilhelm Dilthey influence the study of historical knowledge?

Wilhelm Dilthey significantly transformed the study of historical knowledge by challenging the prevailing attempt to model the human sciences (Geisteswissenschaften) after the natural sciences.12

Instead of seeking universal, causal laws, Dilthey argued that historical inquiry requires a distinct epistemological approach focused on Verstehen (understanding). He posited that while natural sciences aim to explain physical reality, the human sciences must interpret the unique motivations and intentions of historical actors.2

Key aspects of his influence include:

• Interpretative Methodology: He established the humanities as interpretative sciences, emphasizing that historical knowledge is derived from how the human mind objectifies itself in actions, institutions, and literature.1
• Historical Consciousness: Dilthey highlighted that the awareness of the historical relativity of all ideas is a defining feature of modern intellectual life, which, while shaking belief in absolute principles, allows for a deeper appreciation of human experience.1
• Shift in Philosophy of History: By rejecting speculative, teleological systems, Dilthey helped shift the focus of the philosophy of history toward analyzing the conditions that make historical knowledge possible and elucidating the procedures historians actually use.3