Philosophy of history

• the method by which we derive a record of the past;
• the assumptions by which we accept this record as "true";
• the shortcomings of current historicist orthodoxy; and
• the hope of a new paradigm in historical inquiry.

As such, philosophy of history does not look at the conclusions of history, but the methods and assumptions by which those conclusions were reached -- a better method can lead to better conclusions.

In short, observation will show that current historical methods tend to be regional, subjective and selective. A better method would tend, where possible, towards a more universal, objective and exhaustive approach.

Unfortunately, much of the basic history learned at the elementary level is aligned with regional biases, whether unabashed or inadvertent. In some instances, history is the pure product of propaganda. Either way, history as a discipline has been compromised by adherence to old ways of thinking about its mechanics and purposes.

Further, elementary history is devoid of theory; it is almost purely content-oriented. We are taught "who said what when, who did what when," but not to explore how we verify an event that we did not witness.

For example, how do we know what a given individual said at a specific time if we weren't around to hear him/her? Chances are, we are reading something we believe to have been actually written at the time of the inquiry. But then, how do we know the person who wrote it was really in a position to make an authoritative statement? While this may be easy to do in some circumstances, there are many instances where "facts" can be neither authenticated nor discredited.

Philosophy of history explores the classic branches of philosophy -- metaphysics, epistemology and axiology -- and their implications on the assumptions and methods of historical inquiry.

In conjunction with political philosophy, it also inquires into the causality and structure of historical change. It seeks to understand the determination of historical situations, and the means by which historians and others can discuss and verify claims about it.

In addition, the philosophy of history is often interested in the history of philosophy. Its questions might include: How can changes in philosophy be accounted for historically? What drives the development of thought in its historical context? To what degree can philosophical texts from prior historical eras (for instance, the teachings of Heraclitus) even be understood today?

Another topic about philosophy in history is colonialism in philosophy.

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