Outlines of a Philosophy of the History of Man
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Johann Gottfried von Herder's Outlines of a Philosophy of the History of Man (1784–91) proposed a new way of understanding history. Herder argued that human actions and achievements must be viewed within their specific cultural context, emphasizing "time, place and national character." He believed that each society has a unique way of life that shapes its people's thinking, rejecting the idea of universal, unchanging human consciousness. Herder's work shifted historical focus from abstract laws to the complex influences of particular societies, highlighting the importance of language and culture in shaping human experience. He is considered a key figure in the development of the "historical sense" and a precursor to Romanticism.123
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