History on the Move: Reimagining Historical Change and the (Im)possibility of Utopia in the 21st Century
In: Journal of the Philosophy of HistorySearch for other papers by Juhan Hellerma in
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Abstract
In his meticulously researched and conceptually innovative book, Zoltán Boldizsár Simon aims to capture the historical sensibility emergent during the postwar period broadly conceived, spanning from the 1940s to our present moment. Attending particularly to the debates concerning ecological and technological outlooks, Simon theorizes that our historical horizon is increasingly shaped by the expectations of an unprecedented event that challenges the sustainability of the human subject as known today. Arguing that the concept of unprecedented change can best be explained against the backdrop of a modern processual temporal configuration originating in the eighteenth century, Simon likewise probes the same concept to illuminate a distinct relationship with the past. Elaborating on the main ideas of the book, the paper will interrogate critically Simon’s assertion whereby the novel postwar temporality is inherently dystopian, and will negotiate Simon’s engagement with presentism, which he questions as an inaccurate representation of our current regime of historicity.
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| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 812 | 246 | 39 |
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History on the Move: Reimagining Historical Change and the (Im)possibility of Utopia in the 21st Century
In: Journal of the Philosophy of HistorySearch for other papers by Juhan Hellerma in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Abstract
In his meticulously researched and conceptually innovative book, Zoltán Boldizsár Simon aims to capture the historical sensibility emergent during the postwar period broadly conceived, spanning from the 1940s to our present moment. Attending particularly to the debates concerning ecological and technological outlooks, Simon theorizes that our historical horizon is increasingly shaped by the expectations of an unprecedented event that challenges the sustainability of the human subject as known today. Arguing that the concept of unprecedented change can best be explained against the backdrop of a modern processual temporal configuration originating in the eighteenth century, Simon likewise probes the same concept to illuminate a distinct relationship with the past. Elaborating on the main ideas of the book, the paper will interrogate critically Simon’s assertion whereby the novel postwar temporality is inherently dystopian, and will negotiate Simon’s engagement with presentism, which he questions as an inaccurate representation of our current regime of historicity.
| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 812 | 246 | 39 |
| Full Text Views | 123 | 64 | 2 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 189 | 40 | 2 |
