THE HISTORICAL PROMISES OF MODERN PHILOSOPHY
THE HISTORICAL PROMISES OF MODERN PHILOSOPHY

Summary/Abstract: This paper proposes some theoretical instruments for understanding the “historical promises” made by some modern philosophers of history. In our sense of the term, these “historical promises” refer to a desired future state of humanity/society, but insofar as it is related to a particular description of past historical development. The paper puts forth a hypothesis about how we should understand the notion of historical necessity involved in these promises and analyzes the three main discursive strategies that make up a promise. It then goes on to depict five successive waves of modern philosophical promises based on the previously identified categories.

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