https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2025-2026/L_GCBAGES218After this course students are able to:formulate in their own words different answers to the questions (a) What sort of science (discipline) is history? and (b) What is its value?; andpresent arguments in favor of one of the answers to these questions.This course provides an overview of the modern concept of history and the philosophical underpinnings of history as an academic discipline. Two basic questions are discussed: What is history? And what is its value? We also show how the answers to these questions are mutually dependent. The focus is on history as the teacher of life, the need for truth and objectivity, the moral standards of the historian, realism and the value of historical insight, historical explanation and understanding, the intelligibility of the historical process, the tragedy of history, the politics of history-writing, and the close connection between history, narrative and the desire for justice.Lectures and seminars. Lectures are in English. For students Geschiedenis there will be a seminar in Dutch.Written examChiel van den Akker, The Modern Idea of History and Its Value: An Introduction (Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press 2020) NB. for students History and International StudiesBa 2 students Geschiedenis; Ba 2 students History and International Studies; All interested