What is historiology? What is he in charge of? What differences does it present with history and historiography?
In this article we will answer these questions about this discipline of knowledge related to history and, in addition, we will mention two of the most prominent authors in this field.
What is historiology? The DRAE (Dictionary of the Spanish Language) defines this discipline as the “study of the structure, laws and conditions of historical reality.”
Etymologically, the word “historiology” comes from the Greek “iotopia” (which means history), and also from the verb “iotopeiv” (which means to investigate past knowledge) and the term “logy” (which means science, treatise or study). It translates as the discipline that studies (scientifically) history or historical facts
It is also translated as the theory of history, and has the function of studying the structure, laws and conditions of historical reality. Thus, it consists of a discipline of knowledge, which studies, describes and analyzes historical facts. As it does? Through different techniques for collecting and analyzing records, historical samples, data analysis.
Historiology has a lot of relationship with other branches or disciplines of knowledge, such as: historiography (similar to historiology, it is the science that studies and writes history) and the methodology of history (which encompasses the methods used by historians to manage your sources and, ultimately, to work).
Historiology encompasses the set of explanations, methods and theories that allow us to understand and explain how and why certain historical events happened in this way and not in another way
The word historiology was born in 1971 by the Spanish philosopher and essayist José Ortega y Gasset. Specifically, Ortega y Gasset uses this term for the first time in a text of his called History as a system (1971).
Through this text, the philosopher exposes the human being as a historical subject, who has the intrinsic need to analyze the events of the past to understand the present, as well as his own identity.
Ortega y Gasset gradually introduces the term historiology when he explains that, according to him, historical data is not important (and cannot be understood) without observation through a method that analyzes and describes it
Thus, he defines historiology as the “epistemology of history” (later we will see what epistemology is). According to him, historiology is the discipline that is based, among others, on historiography, and that has the mission of identifying what causes and what consequences are hidden behind historical reality.
What does this discipline deal with?
Historiology deals with describe and explain historical events that occurred throughout the history of humanity In addition, it also focuses on analyzing the different aspects or logical elements that allow explaining historical reality (that is, that “X” event occurred in such a way and why).
Thus, historiology has two central functions or missions: describe and analyze. More specifically, it also deals with identifying what keys, patterns and/or causes allow us to understand the events or processes that took place throughout history.
What does a historiologist do?
Historiologists are professionals in historiology, and as such, they are responsible for studying historical events scientifically.
These people are specialists in their field, and know some of the philosophy and history. They are responsible for studying the norms, causes, precepts and/or conditions of history (This is called epistemology).
Epistemology
For its part, epistemology is a branch of knowledge (“independent” of historiology, although it is related to it) in charge of study scientific knowledge, that is, its origin, scope, nature, foundations and possibilities
So, in reality, historiology and epistemology are strongly interrelated.
Historiology, historiography and history
In the study of historical events and history in general, we find disciplines and sciences so similar, with names so similar …that can cause us a little confusion.
Therefore, we are going to clarify the role of each of these disciplines: historiology, historiography and history. In addition, we will see how each one differs from the others.
1. Historiology
This is an epistemological area, propose a theory of knowledge about historical events It is the discipline that we describe in this article, and that encompasses all the explanations, theories and methods used to explain how, when and why certain historical events or processes happened.
It also analyzes sociopolitical trends, and why they occur in certain places or places and not others.
2. Historiography
For its part, historiography (not to be confused with historiology), It encompasses only the different techniques and methods used to describe historical events (already recorded) In this discipline, the historical method is essential (as well as its correct use).
3. History
Finally, history is the science in charge of studying historical events, that is, the past, as well as the influence and weight that these have had in the present. Besides, The study of these facts also serves as a basis for understanding future facts or events
Two of the most prominent authors of historiology were:
1. José Ortega y Gasset
Already mentioned in this article, he was the author who introduced the term historiology, and who made its birth and consolidation possible, to a large extent. Spanish philosopher and essayist, José Ortega y Gasset (1883-1955) He is surely the most prominent and important figure in historiology
A relevant contribution of Ortega y Gasset was the following: he maintained that history had wrongly introduced the structure of scientific knowledge, and therefore encouraged new professionals in historiology to do it properly, that is, through a most accurate interpretation of scientific knowledge.
2. Karl Marx
Karl Marx (1818-1883) was an intellectual, philosopher, economist and sociologist well known for his movement called “Marxism”. Marx conscientiously analyzed historical events, through the current of materialist philosophy
According to him, the way in which man has developed production (that is, the different economic activities that we develop as a society) is what has been defining and enabling the different historical events of all cultures, and throughout the world. .
In other words, according to Marx, modes of production influence culture, politics and even legal laws, and allow us to get closer to the why (and even how) of historical events.
