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Martin Heidegger
To cite this article: Martin Heidegger (1978) The Concept of Time in the Science
of History, Journal of the British Society for Phenomenology, 9:1, 3-10, DOI:
10.1080/00071773.1978.11006512
I. The following corresponds contextually wi.th the trial lecture given by the author on July 27, 1915, to the
Philosophy Faculty of the University of Freiburg in fulfillment of the venia legendi. That form has been
adopted for the essay.
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happens only as long as he expects from the in- concept of time within and consequently deter-
vestigations Olbjectively new things .for his own mine its logical structure. I.f we arrive at a solu-
particular scientific field. This, of course, cannot tion to the pr01blem, and have recognized the con-
happen because of the completely new dimension cept of time of the science of history as one of its
of the investigations. Consequently the investiga- central concepts, it should then be possible to
tions are significant for the researcher in his field, generalize about the logical structure of history
if and only if, he forgets himself as an individual as science.
and philosophizes.
The peculiarity of the structure of the time
The establishment of a logical basis for research concept in the science of history will now appear
methods in each science falls within the realm of unquestionably clearer when compared to another
logic as the theory of knowledge. This cannot be structure of time. We shall first, however, charac-
developed in its entirety. Moreover, only a parti- terize the concept of time in the natural sciences
cular category (a logical, fundamental element)- - specifically in physics. Our problem -with
the concept of time-is selected and its structure reference to the concept of time- in physics is
disclosed. Ultimately a central concept becomes relatively the same as the concept of time in the
problematic, its solution must shed light on the science of history: what structure must the con-
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logical totality of the appropriate particular cept of time in the physical sciences possess to
science. Now the question is how we arrive at the correspondingly function as the concept of time in
knowledge of the logical structure of the concept the goal of physics?
o.f time in the science of history. When we speak
of a particular logical structure of the concept of I
time, we mean that its context is determined in Now we will clarify the goal of physics as
a unique way by definite ultimate categorical science. The best way to do this is by identifying
elements. This relation of the concept "time in the basic trend of physics. which has appeared
general" and the concept of "historical time" must even more clearly in its history from Galileo to
be disclosed. The science of history applies the the present.
concept of time accordingly. The structure of the
concept of time in history can be described accord- Ancient and medieval philosophy of naturet
ingly from its function in the science of history; sought to research the metaphysical nature of
but its unique function can be in turn understood phenomena in immanent reality and their hidden
in terms of the goal of the science of history. The causes. Opposite this metaphysical speculation
path we follow in determining the logical charac- about nature, Galileo's science is something
teristics of the concept of time in the science of fundamentally new in its method. It seeks to
history proceeds from the goal of the science of master the multiplicity of phenomena by use of a
history via the function of the concept of time to law; its uniquely new accomplishment is in the
its structure. In summary the problem can be way it arrives at the law. Because the basic direc-
formulated in the following way: which structure tion of physics can be seen clearest in this particu-
must the concept of time in the science of history lar method of recognizing the law, the method
possess, to be able to function as the time concept can ibe explained by using the classic example of
in the goal of this science? Thus no particular Galileo's discovery of the law of gravity. The
philosophical theory of the science of history is previous view of nature would have pmbably
preserved nor is there any investigation to deter- proceeded by attempting to observe individual
mine which structure of the concept of time fits cases of gravitational phenomena and then by
in the framewort. Instead we accept the science distinguishing the common characteristic in each
of history as fact, study the actual function of the phenomenon, thereby determining the nature of
2. Medieval thinking was really never qui·te as removed from empirical concerns as it is oftentimes believed;
they certainly knew how to appreciate experientially derived data or at least the perception of that data;
they were conscious of the value of mathematics for the natural sciences - although not on a clearly
expressed theoretical level - and the nature of experimentation was known; however in all this the miss-
ing element was still the real nature of problem formulation in the na·tiD'al sciences.
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gravity. Galileo did not begin with the observation parts of acoustics and heat in the field of mech-
of individual instances of gravity, rather with a anics, and optics, magnetism and the theory of
general assumption, which states: a body - with- radiant heat in the theory of electricity. Today
out support - will fall in such a way that its the number of the numerous fields in physics has
velocity increases in proportion to time (v = g· t), been reduced to two: mechanics and electro-
i.e. the body falls with increasing velocity. The dynamics - or as it is sometimes expressed -
initial velocity is 0; the final velocity is v = g· t. physics of matter and physics of the ether. As
If we use the average velocity gf2·t, then we have hotly as the battle between the mechanical and
uniform motion; the definitive basic formula for electro-dynamic "Weltanschauung" has raged
this is s = c· t: the distance traveled is equal to the boundary between the two "cannot be per-
the product of the velocity and the time. In our manently sharply differentiated from each other"
case c = g/2 · t. When this is substituted in the - as Planck says.s "Mechanics requires for its
last equation it yields s = g/2 · t~. Galileo checked foundation essentially nothing more than the ideas
this equation against specific cases and verified it. of space, of time, and that which is moving,
Thus, the foregoing assumption is valid and from whether one considers this as a sUibstance or a
it the law was deduced and later experimentally state. The same ideas are also involved in electro-
verified. Intentionally the entire thought process dynamics. A sufficiently generalized conception
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was rendered more explicit in order to demon- of mechanics can therefore also well include
strate 1that nowhere in the entire inference was electrodynamics, and, in .fact, there are many
there consideration given to a particular body, indications pointing toward the ultimate amalga-
time period, or path of fall. The assumption mation of these two subjects, the domains of
v = g·t, which finally becomes the law on the which already overlap in some measure.".¥
basis of the verified experiment, is a general as-
sumption about all bodies. Thus the goal of physics as a science is to
There is a two-fold uniqueness about this new express the unity of the physical world, to trace
method: (1) an assumption is given which makes all phenomena back to the mathematically fixed
it possible to grasp the phenomena of a particular laws of a general dynamics, back to the laws of
field of s~udy, in this case, the phenomena of motion of a still undetermined mass. Now that
motion; (2) the assumption does not indicate some we have determined the goal of physics, we posit
hidden quality as the underlying cause ex,plaining a second question: what is the function of the con-
the phenomena, rather it contains mathematically cept of time in this science?
comprehensible, that is measurable relationships
between the ideal instances of the phenomenon. Briefly, the object of physics is motion in ac-
This method of problem formulation, which Gali- cordance with laws. Motion occurs in time. What
leo first used intentionally, has proved its superi- does this say then? The "in" time has a spatial
ority in ,the course of time in the various fields of meaning; time, however, has no spatial quality,
physics (mechanics, acoustics, heat, optics, mag- in fact, space and time are opposites of one
netic theory, electricity). In each of these areas of another. But it is also clear that motion and
physics one seeks equations in which the most time somehow are closely related. At one point
generalized, ordered relationships of the events in his Two New Sciences, Galileo speaks of the
can be applied to the respective area. "On Naturally ·Accelerated Motion". "We easily
understand that the closest affinity holds between
Modern physics has not stopped here. It has time and motion ... , we call movement equable
discovered basic laws which permit inclusion of when in equal times equal spaces are traversed."5
3. Acht Vorlesungen iiber theoretische Physik (Leipzig: Hirzel, 1910), p. 8. [Planck, M., Eight Lectures on
Theoretical Physics, trans. A. P. Willis (New York.: Columbia University Press, 1915) p. 8.]
4. Ibid., p. 9. [Ibid., p. 9.] '
5. For a discussion and mathematical demonstration of two new branches of knowledge, mechanics and the
laws of gravity ooncerni.ng the 3rd and 4th Day (1638). Translated and edited by A. OettJingen, "Ostwalds
Klassiker der exakten Wissenschaften" (Leipzig: Engelmann, 1891), No. 24, p. 7. [Galileo, Two New
Sciences, trans. S. Drake (Madison: Univers~ty of Wisconsin Press, 1974) p. 154.]
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In the relation between motion and time we are point", says Einstein, "we give the values of the
clearly concerned with measuring the motion by coordinates as functions of time."6
using time. The quantitative determination of
such a measurement is the concern of mathe- All other basic concepts of motion, such as
matics. Theoretical or mathematical physics forms veloci.ty. uniform motion, acceleration, irregular
the foundation of experimental physics. i.e., motion are defined by definite relationships be-
mathematical physics. Thus if we wish to define tween space and time. The visually obvious quali-
the specific concepts of motion and time, we must ties of the phenomenon are eliminated and eleva-
consider their mathematical forms. ted entirely into the realm of mathematics.
The position of a material point in space is So the motion of an object in physics is meas-
determined by the spatial point with which it ured by time. It is the function of time to make
coincides. Let us suppose now that space is empty, measurement possible. Because motion is always
except for the material point whose position is to viewed in physics with respect to measurability,
be determined. However. space is infinite. Each motion is frequently considered in time .to discover
spatial point is equal to every other and the dir- certain physical knowledge, where time as such
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ection of each equal to every other. Thus it is is virtually absent. But as the equations of motion
impossible to determine the position of our mater- above indicate, time is a necessary part of the
ial point without another point of reference. Such definition of motion. The necessary interrelation-
a reference point is always prerequisite. Any deter- ship of motion and time is above all mathemati-
mination of position is relative to the reference cally and physically comprehensible. Since time is
point, therefore never absolute. To determine the a requirement in any attempt to determine mathe-
position, we choose three straight lines, each ver- matically an object in physics, such as motion, we
tical to the others, and all intersecting the refer- are wble ·to directly answer the ultimate question
ence point, the x, y and z axes. The ·position of a concerning the structure of the concept of time.
point P is determined by the distances from the In the time equations x=x(t), y=y(t), z=z(t),
coordinate axes to the coordinates x, y, z. Let us time is assured to be independently variable in
assume P is a point on a spatial curve. If we tha.t it is constantly changing, flowing uniformly
consider the point in motion, i.e., we study its from one point to the next with no jumps. Time
positions in a time sequence. At each second on represents a simply constructed series, in which
the clock, we can make three measurements, that every point is differentiated by its position as
is, indicate specific values of x, y, z, which will measured from its initial position. Since any point
determine .the position of the point P at time t. in time differs from the preceding one only in that
The values of x, y, z are dependent on the res- it is the subsequent point relative to it, it is thus
pective time t, that is to say, they are functions possible to measure .time, and thus motion. As
of time [x=x(t); y=y(t); z=z(t)]. H the value of soon as time is measured - time only has a
t changes even infinitesimally. the values of the meaningful function in physics when measured or
coordinates are likewise changed. Now if we measurable - we can determine a quantitative
assign the entire sequence of values to t. the value. This quantitative value considers the elap-
coordinates as constant functions of t express the sed time altogether. We segment .the time scale,
basic concept of all sequential positions of the thus destroy the intrinsic flow of time and arrest
point P. We call t•his basic concept of all positions i.t. The flow is frozen and becomes a surface, only
motion. as a surface can it be measured. Time then be-
comes a homogeneous ordered series of points, a
"If we want to describe the motion of a material scale, a parameter.
6. A. Ein&tein, "Zur Elekrodynamik bewegter Korper," Annalen der Physik 17 (1905); rep. in "Fortschritte der
mathematischen Wissenschaften in Monographien," ed. by 0. Blumenthal, Book 2, Das Relativitiitsprinzip
(Berlin, Leipzig: Teubner, 1913), p. 28. [H. A. Lor<mtz, A. Einstein, H. Minkowski, The Principle of Rela-
tivity, trans. W. Perrett and G. B. Jeffery (London: Methuen, 1923; rpt. New York: Dover, 1952), pp. 38·
39.]
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Before we conclude the discussion of the con- tin:e determination in it is a very peculiar one,
cept of time in the natural sciences, one more which can only be understood by discovering the
objection must be considered. One could point nature of the science of history.
out that. in ·the discussion so far, no mention has
been made of the newest theory in physics - the At least this much is clear: there is a problem
Theory of Relativity. It's resulting perception of in the concept of time used in the science of his-
time ''surpasses in boldness everything previously tory. Therefore, it is significant and justifiable to
suggested in speculative natural phenomena and seek the structure of the historical concept of time.
even in the philosophical theories of knowledge".7 This structure is only discernible by its function
in the science of history, while it is the goal and
But we usually overlook the following: the the object of the science of history which make
theory of relativity as a physical theory is con- the function understandable.
cerned with the problem of measuring time, not
with time itself. The theory of relativity remains II
untouched and in .fact confirms to an even greater In the science of history the path ·from the goal
degree the above mentioned characteristics of the of science to the function of .the concept of time,
and from there to the structure of the concept of
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development, undergoes the most varied re-forma- thing incomparably other. However, the temporal
tion and transformations, absorbs events of the gap remains rbetween the historian and his object.
past in order to assimilate or resist already com- If he wishes to represent it, he must in some way
pleted developments. The cultural development of have i,t before him. Time must be overcome and
man within and in relation to societies and organi- one must live one's way through the temporal gap
zations (the state) created by him is ultimately from the present to the past. The necessarily in-
the objectification of the human spirit. The his- herent requirement for the goal and the object of
torian is interested in this process of objectification the science of history demands ,to overcome time
of the spirit in the course of time, not at each and representations of a past, which will become
point of its culmination as though attempting to possible only if time itself somehow becomes a
record all events in time. It has been said he is function. Already in 1607 John Bodin included a
interest.ed only in the historical efficacy. Eduard chapter on time in his Methodus ad facilem his-
Meyer, who made this assertion elaborates and toriarum cognitionem. He states: "Those who
explicates its meaning correctly saying: "The think they can understand histories (the use of
selection depends on the historical interest which the plural here is noteworthy) without chronology
the present holds on any effect, that is, with regard are as much in error as those who wish to escape
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Thus the "source" allows us the scientific access source in question, in form, style, and content, in
to historical reality, from which the very reality short, to its entire character, . . . because each
will be constructed in t'he first place. But this is period carries in its entire creation and expression
only possible of the source, as a source is deter- another differentiating character which one may
mined, if its authenticity is proven. This is done very well recognize."J3 In written documents main-
by criticism. Let us suppose the authenticity of a ly the writing style and the language - "the most
document is to be proven. A decision as to its flexible expressions of the intellectual era" -
"legal style" might be sought. "The documentary enable us to make determinations of the period.
witnesses of an orderly, functioning government
office will at certain times have particular charac- The concept of time plays no less a significant
teristics. The sum total of all these characteristics role in the second main task of the historical
at a certain time consti.tute its legal style."U method: the disclosure in contextual arrangement
Within the concept of legal style then is the con- of the individually established facts. It becomes
cept of time. a question of correctly understanding the particu-
lar facts and their importance in context, that is,
The proof of legal style, .that is the diplomatic to correctly determine the factual content of the
criticism, must be supplemented by the legal- sources.
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historical and generally historical criticism; that is, An interesting example of the extensive function
the document must be compared with the legal of the concept of time in history can be seen in
and prevailing cultural conditions of the time Troeltsch's recent investigation of Augustine)#
period to which it is supposed to belong. For Troeltsch shows that Augustine was "in fact the
example, the pseudo-Isidorian Papal Decrees were conclusion and culmination of Christian antiquity,
proved fraudulent by showing the particular Papal its last and greatest thinker, its spiritual practi-
letters to be anachronisms. We know that Pope tioner and tribune of the people. It is from this
Gregory the Great always began his writings with perspective that he must lbe understood first".J5
the title "servus servorum Dei". Previous Popes Elsewhere, Troeltsch characterizes the termination
already refer to themselves by the same title in of Christian antiquity beginning wit'h Augustine.
the letters in question within the lsidorian collec-
This characteristic enables him to separate the
tion. We also know that toward the end of the second period in the history of Christianity from
fourth century the Popes did not date .their letters
the first. In reference to the distinction of the great
according to Roman advisory; but this is done in periods Troeltsch writes: "they have to be depicted
those Isidore Letters. The decrees which are sup-
in terms of the affiliation of Christian churchdom
posed to date from the first centuries assume cer- to the respective general cultural conditions."J6
tain liturgical-legal conditions which did not exist
until later. Criticism also shows that the form and These examples are sufficient to recognize
content of the letters do not display the charac- immediately the essential element in the concept
teristics of the time in which they were supposed of time. Historical time periods differ qualitatively.
to have been written, rather of later times. The The "leading tendencies" (Ranke) of an age are
scientific use of a source demands that the time decisive for its separation from another.
of origin be determined, because its value as
evidence depends on how far removed it is in time The concept of time in the science of history
from the historical fact to which it is to testify. has none of the homogeneous character of the
"The most common method used is a comparative scientific concept of time. Therefore, historical
investigation as to which era corresponds to the time cannot be expressed mathematically by a
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series, since there is no law which determines how troops and the clear direction of the whole opera-
the time periods succeed one another. The points tion, not to mention the strong resistance of the
in time of physical time are distinguishable only Russian army. The year dates are convenient
by their position in the series. Historical times do markers, by themselves however unimportant,
in fact succeed one another-otherwise they would since for each number any other could be substi-
not in fact be times-yet each differs in its content tuted by simply changing the starting point of the
and structure. The qualitative element of the his- counting. But even the beginning of time compu-
torical concept of time is nothing more than the tation indicates !!hat it commences with an histori-
concentration - crystallization - of a given life cally significant event (Founding of Rome, the
objectification in history. Thus science of history Birth of Christ, Hedschra).
does not work with qualities. Yet what else are
the yearly dates? The historian can do nothing
The aid of the science of history, historical
with the mere number 750 in the concept of
chronology, is significant for the theory of the
"hunger crisis in Fulda in the year 750". He is not
historical concept of time from the beginning of
interested in the number as a quantity, or as an
time computation. For example, it is said that
element which has its particular place among the
setting the beginning of the year on January 1st
ordered numbers one to infinity, dividable by 50,
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17. RuhL Chronologie des Mitte/alters und der Neuzei1 (Berlin, Reuther & Re-ichard, 1897), p. 24.
18. C{., a discussion of the fundamental noUoo. of historical concept-formation: H. Rickert, Die Grenzen der
naturwissenschaftlichen Begriffsbildung, 2nd ed. (TUbingen: Mohr, 1913), p. 333 If.
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