Mission Statement

The upcoming conference titled "Analytical Philosophy of History and the Challenges of the Future" aims to delve into the profound insights of analytical philosophy in understanding historical phenomena and their impact on shaping our present and future. The event will feature a keynote lecture by Paul A. Roth, an esteemed professor of philosophy at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and a leading authority in the field of the philosophy of history.

Nearly a decade since Roth's visionary talk on the “Revival of Analytical Philosophy of History” in Poznań, the enduring questions he posed continue to reverberate: “What are we trying to revive, and why does it matter?” These questions persist, gaining momentum and resonance. Notably, the well-received volume revolving around Roth’s ideas, titled “Towards a Revival of Analytical Philosophy of History: Around Paul A. Roth’s Vision of Historical Sciences” (edited by Krzysztof Brzechczyn, Brill-Rodopi, 2018), and Roth’s insightful monograph “The Philosophical Structure of Historical Explanation” (Northwestern University Press, 2020), have significantly advanced our understanding of the current state of the analytical philosophy of history.

While our understanding of the first question has evolved, the urgency of the second question looms larger: What is the current state of analytical philosophy of history? Broadly, it can be understood as any philosophy of history that is rational, evidence-based, logically coherent, and intertwined with various sciences (historiography and others). What role can this philosophy play in a world marked by continuous crises and unprecedented change, as emphasized in the works of Ewa Domańska (2022) and Zoltán Simon (2020)?

As historians and philosophers grapple with these challenges, the focus remains on addressing issues that have garnered philosophical attention and are deeply relevant to the theory of history and our historical condition. These issues include:

• The digitalization of historical engagements with the past,
• The abundance of sources and theories,
• Globalization and indigenization of historical knowledge,
• Challenges to the truth and authority of specialists,
• Recurring ontological debates concerning realism and antirealism.
• Posthumanism and advancements in AI and other sciences,
• The resurgence of nationalism and its influence on historical narratives and creating new historiographical myths,
• The politicization of historical narratives,
• The decline in the number of students pursuing historical studies.

Can analytical philosophy of history light the way forward, providing insights into these challenges without succumbing to speculation?

Join us as we uncover the potential and possibilities of this dynamic discipline.