This unified treatment of principal themes in the area of the philosophy of history is an attempt to combine important insights scattered among books and articles published during recent decades and to coordinate the various approaches to the nature of history associated with positivism, analytical philosophy, pragmatism, and phenomenology. Originally published in 1967. A UNC Press Enduring Edition -- UNC Press Enduring Editions use the latest in digital technology to make available again books from our distinguished backlist that were previously out of print. These editions are published unaltered from the original, and are presented in affordable paperback formats, bringing readers both historical and cultural value.