Thinking with History

The book explores the evolution of historical thought in the context of modernity, contrasting the historicism of the nineteenth century with the detachment from history seen in twentieth-century European and American culture. Schorske argues that while modern art, architecture, music, and science emerged as autonomous fields, they still reflect attempts to grapple with the challenges of modernity. This interplay between historical awareness and modernist detachment reveals different strategies for understanding and shaping European civilization amid industrial capitalism and mass politics.