第一小说网

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第3部分（第3页）

writer：　each　is　likely　enough　to　believe　himself　capable　of　arranging　and　manipulating　them；　and　we

may　expect　that　each　will　insist　upon　his　own　spirit　as　that　of　the　age　in　question。　Disgusted　by

such　reflective　histories　readers　have　often　returned　to　a　with　pleasure　to　a　narrative　adopting　no

particular　point　of　view。　These　certainly　have　their　value；　but　for　the　most　part　they　offer　only

material　for　history。　We　Germans　are　not　content　with　such。　The　French；　on　the　other　hand；

display　great　genius　in　reanimating　bygone　times；　and　in　bringing　the　past　to　bear　upon　the　present

conditions　of　things。

3。　Critical　History

§　9

The　third　form　of　Reflective　History　is　the　Critical。　This　deserves　mention　as　pre…eminently　the

mode　of　treating　history；　now　current　in　Germany。　It　is　not　history　itself　that　is　here　presented。　We

might　more　properly　designate　it　as　a　History　of　History；　a　criticism　of　historical　narratives　and　an

investigation　of　their　truth　and　credibility。　Its　peculiarity　in　point　of　fact　and　of　intention；　consists　in

the　acuteness　with　which　the　writer　extorts　something　from　the　records　which　was　not　in　the

matters　recorded。　The　French　have　given　as　much　that　is　profound　and　judicious　in　this　class　of

position。　But　they　have　not　endeavoured　to　pass　a　merely　critical　procedure　for　substantial

history。　They　have　duly　presented　their　judgments　in　the　form　of　critical　treatises。　Among　us；　the

so…called　“higher　criticism；”　which　reigns　supreme　in　the　domain　of　philology；　has　also　taken

possession　of　our　historical　literature。　This　“higher　criticism”　has　been　the　pretext　for　introducing

all　the　anti…historical　monstrosities　that　a　vain　imagination　could　suggest。　Here　we　have　the　other

method　of　making　the　past　a　living　reality；　putting　subjective　fancies　in　the　place　of　historical　data；

fancies　whose　merit　is　measured　by　their　boldness；　that　is；　the　scantiness　of　the　particulars　on

which　they　are　based；　and　the　peremptoriness　with　which　they　contravene　the　best　established

facts　of　history。

§　10

4。　The　last　species　of　Reflective　History　announces　its　fragmentary　character　on　the　very　face　of　it。

It　adopts　an　abstract　position；　yet；　since　it　takes　general　points　of　view　（e。g。　as　the　History　of　Art；

of　Law；　of　Religion）；　it　forms　a　transition　to　the　Philosophical　History　of　the　World。　In　our　time　this

form　of　the　history　of　ideas　has　been　more　developed　and　brought　into　notice。　Such　branches　of

national　life　stand　in　close　relation　to　the　entire　plex　of　a　peoples　annals；　and　the　question　of

chief　importance　in　relation　to　our　subject　is；　whether　the　connection　of　the　whole　is　exhibited　in　its