Where does history exist? I think it's tempting to say it exists in the mind; however, historical events are not dependent on the mind for their existence. Surely a historical event still exists, even if the mind doesn't exist to comprehend it. How have philosophers handled this problem?
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Some of this is definitely wrapped up in the epistemological status of historical claims, since after all no living person can attest to their veridicality– Joseph Weissman ♦Dec 14, 2014 at 20:04
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I'd be curious if you couldn't draw this out this a little further, maybe explore some of the motivations that might have made this an interesting or important problem for you.– Joseph Weissman ♦Dec 14, 2014 at 20:05
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What prompted me to this question was the philosophy surrounding the ontology of mathematics. I've also recently finished reading the first book of Hume's treatise, where he discusses the epistemological status of historical claims. I guess the two have merged to make me question how history exists, but I haven't seen any philosophers comment on this particular issue (granted, my knowledge of philosophy is small).– NateDec 14, 2014 at 20:22
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I think you need to separate events from their explication in history. Events obviously exist independently of their interpretation, but historians typically interpret events in the context of a broader theory of social change.– user4634Dec 15, 2014 at 2:36
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2You're right; history isn't the correct word. What I mean is the notion of the past.– NateDec 15, 2014 at 2:49
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After studying the fundamentals of special relativity and denouncing a neo-Lorentzian approach to time, I am convinced that a tenseless theory of time is best representative model of the given evidence. That being said, under this view, the very events of history are every bit as real and as existent as this discussion. John F. Kennedy's assassination is just as real as the inaugural address given by the 45th president of the United States.
From a slightly physical standpoint, if we were to assume that reality does exist as perceived, all events that you perceive from the outside world (i.e. not originating within your own mind) are necessarily past events as the maximum speed at which information can propagate is the speed of light. This may not seem to be a relevant interjection, but I posit that it is simply because, at the time at which you perceive an event, that precise event is no longer taking place and is, thus, no longer "real" in a tensed theory of time. Ontologically speaking, I would say that past events are in existence in the same way present events are; they exist merely as temporal points on a [perceived] linear timeline, not as a physical object, but as concepts used to describe the temporary nature of things at the given point.
