Tolstoy saw a paradigm shift taking place in how we understand history.
Summary:
An important underlying thesis of the second epilogue is that we are currently in the midst of what we today would call a paradigm shift in how we view history. Tolstoy does not use the term paradigm shift, of course, since that term was invented much later. But if you read the last chapter of this epilogue, it’s pretty clear he is talking about what we today would call a paradigm shift. It’s a profound change between two very different ways of looking at something. Tolstoy says the change taking place in the views of history is tantamount to the Copernican shift between the old view that the sun orbits the earth to our understanding that the earth orbits the sun.
Note: In this set of notes, the key concepts from the second epilogue have been reordered in the interest of making the main ideas clearer.
You can read more about this paradigm shift in understanding history in Chapter 12 of the second epilogue.
quote from the chapter:
And yet the former history continues to be studied side by side with the laws of statistics, geography, political economy, comparative philology, and geology, which directly contradict its assumptions.
The struggle between the old views and the new was long and stubbornly fought out in physical philosophy. Theology stood on guard for the old views and accused the new of violating revelation. But when truth conquered, theology established itself just as firmly on the new foundation.
Just as prolonged and stubborn is the struggle now proceeding between the old and the new conception of history, and theology in the same way stands on guard for the old view, and accuses the new view of subverting revelation.
Second Epilogue, key concept note 1
Tolstoy saw a paradigm shift taking place in how we understand history.
Summary:
An important underlying thesis of the second epilogue is that we are currently in the midst of what we today would call a paradigm shift in how we view history. Tolstoy does not use the term paradigm shift, of course, since that term was invented much later. But if you read the last chapter of this epilogue, it’s pretty clear he is talking about what we today would call a paradigm shift. It’s a profound change between two very different ways of looking at something. Tolstoy says the change taking place in the views of history is tantamount to the Copernican shift between the old view that the sun orbits the earth to our understanding that the earth orbits the sun.
Note: In this set of notes, the key concepts from the second epilogue have been reordered in the interest of making the main ideas clearer.
You can read more about this paradigm shift in understanding history in Chapter 12 of the second epilogue.
quote from the chapter:
And yet the former history continues to be studied side by side with the laws of statistics, geography, political economy, comparative philology, and geology, which directly contradict its assumptions.
The struggle between the old views and the new was long and stubbornly fought out in physical philosophy. Theology stood on guard for the old views and accused the new of violating revelation. But when truth conquered, theology established itself just as firmly on the new foundation.
Just as prolonged and stubborn is the struggle now proceeding between the old and the new conception of history, and theology in the same way stands on guard for the old view, and accuses the new view of subverting revelation.
Click here to read full text of Chapter 12 of the second epilogue.
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