Walter Benjamin “Theses on Philosophy of History"

“Historicism gives the ‘eternal’ image of the past; historical materialism supplies a unique experience with the past. The historical materialist leaves it to others to be drained by the whore called ‘Once upon a time’ in historicism’s bordello. He remains in control of his powers, man enough to blast open the continuum of history” (Benjamin, 262).

In Walter Benjamin “Theses on Philosophy of History,” he focuses on the historicism and historical materialism with regards to past and present. It conveys the experience of time in metaphysical way. His main concern is progress. The idea that thing were getting better. But many problems still exist that humanity is still making progress to solve the problems of human lives.

 In the sixteenth thesis Benjamin argues that the past in not really past because time never changes. Historicism, he is referring to continuing or forever. Research show that historicism is a mode of thinking that assign a central and basic significance to a specific context, such as historical period geographical place and local culture.  Historical materialism is a methodological approach to the study of society, economic and history. It is interesting, because Benjamin is right about historicism an eternal now.  The past never change.  He is concerned with time and how it is perceived; according to the passage time is “after all a construct that have been invented to help make sense of reality.” He speaks of the eternal now, here he is talking about a time that does not end; that is forever. He means that past event gives impression although remote and detach from our present life does have impact on us. he studies history, he combines historical materialism.  This name Karl Marx uses when he interpret an unceasing struggle between economic classes that go through various stages of productions.  The materialism suggests that historical analysis should be directed toward the material aspect of economic society.