ABSTRACT
In approaching the end of this book, I wish again to remind the reader that these chapters were not intended as anything like a full history of histori cism; they are merely scattered marginal notes to such a history, and rather personal notes to boot.That they form, besides, a kind of critical introduc tion to the philosophy of society and of politics, is closely connected with this character of theirs, for historicism is a social and political and moral (or, shall I say, immoral) philosophy, and it has been as such most infl uential since the beginning of our civilization. It is therefore hardly possible to comment on its history without discussing the fundamental problems of society, of politics, and of morals. But such a discussion, whether it admits it or not, must always contain a strong personal element.This does not mean that much in this book is purely a matter of opinion; in the few cases where I am explaining my personal proposals or decisions in moral and political matters, I have always made the personal character of the proposal or deci sion clear. It rather means that the selection of the subject matter treated is a matter of personal choice to a much greater extent than it would be, say, in a scientifi c treatise.
