Paper short abstract:

With Collingwood’s analysis of the difference between human history and natural sciences in mind I analyse distinct historical approaches of conceptualising mountains. These steps enable a historicised view upon various concepts of theoretical and epistemological relations between humans and nature.

Paper long abstract:

Based upon epistemological reasoning historians have developed the concept of ‘distance’, thereby underlining an ‘otherness’ of any past time when being researched – this otherness in return highlighting distinct hermeneutical aspects to be taken into account. Furthermore, it is a characteristic feature of historical research and writing that any historical account can, at any time, be rewritten – such procedures by no means presenting historiographies as instances of untrustable narratives, but rather emphasising the relational intertwinements of any present historical study and the respective past. – Having these two aspects of historical research and writing in mind (‘distance’ and ‘rewriting’), I shall turn to epistemological requirements of historical research in anthropocenic times, namely by referring to two separate aspects hereof. Firstly, I shall discuss Collingwood’s analysis of the difference between human history and natural sciences. This will then lead me to analyse distinct historical approaches of conceptualising mountains (as humans in previous centuries viewed them more as obstacle than being straightforwardly accessible). The resulting comparison of such approaches towards nature (focussing on examples of European and Japanese reflections on mountainous regions) will then enable a historicised view upon various concepts of theoretical and epistemological relations between humans and nature. – Accordingly, I shall conclude by reconsidering Collingwood’s distinctions and by discussing ways of how to change epistemological perspectives within historical research – in order to enhance an understanding of anthropocenic time, by means of reflection based upon and deriving from theory of history.