Western Historical Thinking

Jörn Rüsen was Professor of Modern History at Universities Bochum and Bielefeld for many years. From 1994 to 1997 he was Director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Research (ZiF) at Bielefeld. Since 1997 he has been President of the Institute for Advanced Study in the Humanities Essen (Kulturwissenschaftliches Institut). He specialises in theory and methodology of historical sciences, the history of historiography, intercultural aspects of historical thinking, theory of historical learning, and the history of human rights.

“... a remarkably stimulating production, full of insights and observations that cannot fail to inform and illuminate. Although it would be an ideal text for the graduate seminar, it will prove valuable to anyone interested in the uses of the past.”  ·  Clio“... [an] engaging, sophisticated and scrupulous study ... a strongly recommended, introspective and thoughtful compilation which would enhance any personal or academic philosophy or history collection.”  · Midwest Book Review"... a strongly recommended, introspective and thoughtful compilation which would enhance any personal or academic Philosophy or History collection."  · The Bookwatch

• Preface to the SeriesJörn RüsenIntroduction: Historical Thinking as Intercultural DiscourseJörn RüsenPART I: THESESWestern Historical Thinking in a Global Perspective – 10 ThesesPeter BurkePART II: COMMENTS1. General CommentsPerspectives in Historical AnthropologyKlaus E. MüllerSearching for Common Principles: A Plea and Some Remarks on the Islamic TraditionTarif KhalidiThe Coherence of the WestAziz Al-Azmeh2. The Peculiarity of the WestToward an Archaeology of Historical ThinkingFrançois HartogTrauma and Suffering: A Forgotten Source of Western Historical ConsciousnessFrank R.AnkersmitWestern Deep Culture and Western Historical ThinkingJohan GaltungWhat is Uniquely Western about the Historiography of the West in Contrast to that of China?Georg G. IggersThe Westernization of World HistoryHayden White3. The Perspective of the OthersWestern Historical Thinking from an Arabian PerspectiveSadik J. Al-AzmCognitive Historiography and Normative HistoriographyMasayuki SatoWestern Uniqueness? Some Counterarguments from an African PerspectiveGodfrey MuriukiPrograms for Historians: A Western PerspectiveMamadou Diawara4. The Difference of the OthersReflections on Chinese Historical ThinkingYing-shih YüMust History Follow Rational Patterns of Interpretation? Critical Questions from a Chinese Perspective ThomasH.C. LeeSome Reflections on Early Indian Historical ThinkingRomila ThaparPART III: AFTERWORDPeter Burke