La philosophie de l'histoire de Cournot

Thierry Martin (1)

1 LdA - Logiques de l'Agir ( UR 2274)

In the second half of the XIXth century Cournot develops an original conception of history. This conception results from three requirements : 1˚) To define history not through its subject but through its method ; it is a means of knowledge not a full discipline, 2˚) To introduce distinct levels of determination and timing in the study of historical causality, therefore a complexity of phenomena, necessary for their understanding, 3˚) To think about the global tendencies of modern civilization. This article aims to show how these three points are closely interdependent in Cournot's thought, and how this thought may have influenced the representations of history developed in the XXth century. In the second half of the XIXth century Cournot develops an original conception of history. This conception results from three requirements : 1˚) To define history not through its subject but through its method ; it is a means of knowledge not a full discipline, 2˚) To introduce distinct levels of determination and timing in the study of historical causality, therefore a complexity of phenomena, necessary for their understanding, 3˚) To think about the global tendencies of modern civilization. This article aims to show how these three points are closely interdependent in Cournot's thought, and how this thought may have influenced the representations of history developed in the XXth century.

Cournot développe dans la seconde moitié du XIXe siècle une conception originale de l'histoire. Cette conception est au point de convergence de trois exigences : 1˚) définir l'histoire non par son objet, mais par sa méthode ; elle est un mode de connaissance, non une discipline propre, 2˚) introduire dans l'étude de la causalité historique des niveaux distincts de détermination et de rythme, donc une complexité des phénomènes, nécessaire à leur compréhension, 3˚) penser l'orientation globale de la civilisation moderne. Cet article a pour but de montrer comment ces trois points sont étroitement solidaires dans la pensée de Cournot, et comment celle-ci a pu marquer les représentations de l'histoire développées au XXe siècle.

Mots clés: end of history; historical knowledge; Cournot; philosophy of history; historical causality

Mots clés: connaissance historique; fin de l'histoire; philosophie de l'histoire; causalité historique; Antoine Cournot

Domaines: Histoire, Philosophie et Sociologie des sciences

Thierry Martin. La philosophie de l'histoire de Cournot. Revue d'histoire des sciences humaines, 2005, 12, pp.143-162. ⟨halshs-00791218⟩