The Self and Agency in History. Some Remarks in Defense of Classical Historiography

Abstract

In his insightful works regarding state of contemporary historiography professor Wojciech Wrzosek differentiates between classical and non-classical historiography. In this text I discuss above-mentioned opposition in the context of moral philosophy, especially such notions as moral self, moral agency and moral responsibility. My thesis is that a classical historiography is based on metaphors thanks to what we are capable of being moral agents, i. e. we are able to make moral judgments and hold other people responsible for their actions; acting with reference to right and wrong and taking responsibility for these actions as well. On the contrary, nonclassical historiography refers to metaphors that undermines traditional moral notions, particulary individual agency. Therefore, if we want to treat ourselves as moral agents, then we cannot reject traditional historical writing.