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II. Echo [152-154]


increased evasion of history [Geschichte]. But when a definitive view for interpretation becomes the only one that is standard, then history [as a discipline] finds in this unequivocation of the key perspective yet another means to raise itself above the heretofore history that is changing in its views, and to bring this stability of its "research" into the long desired correspondence with the "exact sciences" and actually to become "science". This announces itself when history [as a discipline] becomes capable of being operational and "institutionalized" (something like the institutions of the Kaiser Wilhelm Society). This completion of history [as a discipline] into a secured "science" is not at all contradicted by its major achievement that now takes place in the form of reporting that is suitable for the newspaper and historians’ coveting such a presentation of world-history. For "newspaper science" is already underway, and not accidentally. One sees it as still another variety — if not a degeneration — of history [as a discipline]; but in truth it merely anticipates the final essence of history as a modern science. It is important to pay attention to the unavoidable coupling of this "newspaper science” in the broad sense with the publishing industry, in their unity both stem from the modern technicized way of being. (Hence, as soon as the "liberal arts faulty" is firmly expanded to that which it already now is, then newspaper science and geography will become its basic sciences. The dear and inherent stunted growth of this ‘faculty everywhere is merely the consequence of a failing courage to discard resolutely its illusory character as philosophical and to give the operational character of future "human sciences” full opportunity for its establishment.)

Although theology continues to be determined differently, in terms of worldview, it is far more advanced than the -human sciences—being purely operational in its service to its determination as science. For this reason it is totally appropriate if the theology faculty is ranked after the medical and law faculty hut higher than the philosophy faculty.

History [as a discipline], always understood in terms of the required character of modern science. is a continual evading of history [Geschichte]. But even while evading history, history [as a discipline] still retains a relation to history, and that makes history and the historian ambiguous.

If history is not explained in terms of [the discipline] of history and is not miscalculated by a definite image for definite purposes of forming opinions and convictions, if instead history itself is returned to the uniqueness of its unexplainability and if all the activity of history [as a discipline] and every opinion and belief that arises from it is put into question and given over to an ongoing