Conceptualizing the History of the Present Time
María Inés Mudrovcic
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 03 May 2024
Available:
National University of Comahue IPEHCS-Patagonian Institute of Studies on
Humanities and Social Sciences
Summary
In this work, I explore four meanings of 'contemporary,' emphasizing its designation as a historical field. I argue that disagreements about when the presento or the contemporary era begins stem from historians assuming a linear, chronological, and absolute conception of time. Following scholars like L. Descombes, L. Hölscher, B. Latour, D. J. Wilcox and S. Tanaka, I propose conceiving relational historical time without chronology, emphasizing the original sense of “sharing the same time” that 'contemporary' acquired for the first time. This perspective mitigates issues concerning the 'beginnings' or 'meaning' of the present. Emphasizing relationships within a relational time framework aids in overcoming ontological challenges like 'so many presents' or 'distance in time,' along with the corresponding epistemological issue of 'objectivity.' This exploration aims to reevaluate and enrich our understanding of the multifaceted concept of the 'present' in the context of history.
Element contents
- Summary
- 1 The Present, the Contemporary and the Order of Time
- 2 Present As “Sharing the Same Time”
- 3 Contemporary As an Epoch
- 4 When Contemporary Conflates with Present
- 5 History of the Present Time
- 5.1 History “in Crisis”
- 5.2 Presentism and the History of Present Time
- 5.3 History of the Present Time and Institutions
- 5.4 Many Names for the Same Historiographical Field?
- 5.5 Criticism and Controversies
- 6 Absolute Time, Chronology, and History
· 6.2 “Living Together”: A Relational Approach of Understanding the Present
· Historical Theory and Practice
Information
Series: Elements in Historical Theory and Practice
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009047739
Online ISBN: 9781009047739
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication: 30 May 2024
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