Riflessioni sulla filosofia della storia

This article proposes a critique of the concept of the philosophy of history, referencing both the circular model (Oswald Spengler) and the progressivist model (Antonio Labriola). It then demonstrates that these two opposing conceptions are founded upon the indemonstrable premise of historical necessity. The essay supplements this epistemological critique with an eth- ical-political critique, utilizing an analysis of Arthur Koestler’s novel, to il- lustrate the terrible consequences resulting from a society governed by faith in the necessity of history. The impossibility of verifying historical necessity and the possibility that this premise may legitimize a violent regime (such as the one described by Koestler) suggest a disavowal of the philosophy of history without, however, abandoning historical consciousness which is necessary to understand current society.