historicism

his·tor·i·cism  (h-stôr-szm, -str-)

n.

1. A theory that events are determined or influenced by conditions and inherent processes beyond the control of humans.

2. A theory that stresses the significant influence of history as a criterion of value.

3. Art & Architecture The deliberate use or revival of historical styles in contemporary works.

4. Philosophy The view that historical periods should be studied without imposing anachronistic categories of evaluation.

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his·tori·cist adj. & n.

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historicism

Noun

1. the belief that natural laws govern historical events

2. excessive respect for historical institutions, such as traditions or laws

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historicism

1. a theory that history is determined by immutable laws.
2. a theory that all cultural phenomena are historically determined and that all historians should study a period on its own merits.
3. a search for the laws of historical evolution.
4. a profound or an excessive respect for historical institutions, as traditions or laws. Also historism. — historicist, n., adj.

See also: History

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

historicism - a theory that social and cultural events are determined by history hypothesis, theory, possibility - a tentative insight into the natural world; a concept that is not yet verified but that if true would explain certain facts or phenomena; "a scientific hypothesis that survives experimental testing becomes a scientific theory"; "he proposed a fresh theory of alkalis that later was accepted in chemical practices"