On Breaking Up Time, or, Perennialism as Philosophy of History

What is it about?

Current and recent philosophy of history contemplates a deep change in fundamental notions of the presence of the past. This is called breaking up time. The chief value for this change is enhancing the moral reach of historical research and writing. However, the materialist view of reality the most historians hold cannot support this approach. Examples of the problem taken from Benjamin and Simondon are examined. I propose a neo-idealist approach called perennialism, centered on recurrent moral dilemmas and choices. This suggests a view of the relations of moral thought and ontology placed in the diachronic context that historians study.

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