Preface.

...churches themselves shows great differences in this. As little as I am inclined to let historical research Historical research: the systematic study of past events through primary sources and critical analysis be clouded by the mixing in of philosophical ideas, I nevertheless boldly assert that the historian, in pursuing the developmental history original: "Entwickelungsgeschichte" of human activities, must let himself be guided by the philosophical definition of that activity which he has taken as his subject. If someone wishes to write a history of the various state-formations original: "Staatsbildungen," referring to the different ways societies organize themselves into governments that have emerged within humanity, he must, above all else, know what the state is; without this specific concept, his presentation will waver uncertainly back and forth. To be sure, in this case he can almost do without speculation Speculation: in this philosophical context, reasoning that goes beyond physical evidence to reach fundamental truths, and an induction Induction: the process of reaching a general conclusion or definition by observing specific, real-world examples conducted with circumspection will lead him to the sought-after concept of the state. In other areas of human activity, however, speculation alone can be a reliable guide. For a history of philosophy, for example, if it is not to be—as is usual—a planless enumeration of historical materials, there belongs above all else the firm de[termination]... The text cuts off mid-word "Bestimmung," meaning "definition" or "determination."