A Universal History
There were many philosophers throughout time who sought constantly to identify a Universal History. These philosophers believed in continuity. History to them was a progressive revelation of the way the universe was structured and through this belief, they felt better able to explain man's origin and purpose in life as a whole. Not all philosophers followed or studied Universal Histories as can be seen in the times of Greek antiquity. The philosophers and writers of antiquity never ventured in the writings of Universal Histories, even though the philosophical and historical traditions of the Western world began in Greece. They only acknowledged a cyclical view of History, not one of continuity.Through the politics of the well known philosopher Aristotle, we see that he firmly believed that no regime could ever satisfy man completely, but that man, through being dissatisfied would constantly replace one regime with another, hence his belief that history was a never ending cycle. Plato also spoke in the "Republic" of regimes having certain natural cycles. The Greek view of that time therefore showed history was not secular but cyclical (Fukuyama 1992, p55 & 56). Christians however did not agree w
Once man achieved rationality and social freedom he had reached a state of self-knowledge, thereby bringing him to the end of a Universal History. His belief lay in a ten-stage Universal History of man. The concept of progress was seen as a growing and endless acquisition of knowledge and with knowledge man could continue to advance indefinitely. These beliefs describe an 'end of history' which is implied in all writings of Universal Histories. Over time there were few men brave enough to think freely and express their own opinions. To Kant, history had an end point, a final purpose, which was the realisation of human freedom through the achievements of a 'perfectly just civic constitution'. Bernard Le Bovier de Fontenelle was quoted stating that 'man will never degenerate and there will be no end to growth and development of human wisdom' (Fukuyama 1992, p57). This progress and knowledge Fontenelle envisioned, was not however that of a social or political progress but was primarily within the realm of scientific knowledge. 'The unfolding of Universal Histories could be understood as the growth of the equality of human freedom' (Fukuyama 1992, p 58-60). "Christianity introduced the concept of a history that was finite in time, beginning with God's creation of man and ending with his final salvation" (Fukuyama 1992, p56). Like Fontenelle, he followed the belief that mankind would never be 'perfect' and would be constantly growing as there would always be stages of history still to come, unknown to man (Fukuyama 1992, p57). Christians firmly believed that the 'fate of mankind was in the hands of God only and that this final salvation was the true meaning of life. Mankind though, was still to achieve the final stage, which was characterised by equality in areas such as opportunity, rationality, liberty and democracy. Many other ideas and theories of progress were undertaken by philosophers and writers of the Enlightenment times.
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