The Tragedy of Finitude (Books in summary)

The book is divided into three parts. The first part delves into the background of Dilthey's project, initially conceived as a counterpart to Kant's critique of pure reason. Unlike Kant, Dilthey sought to explore the transcendental conditions underpinning historical knowledge in the human sciences. His work gradually transformed under the influence of thinkers like Schleiermacher, Hegel, and Comte.

The second part reconstructs Dilthey's Critique of Historical Reason, where categories are conceived as categories of life rather than formal constructs. Dilthey rejects Kant’s notion of timeless a priori structures, arguing instead that they are historically contingent and culturally specific. Initially aiming to ground human sciences in descriptive psychology, Dilthey's approach shifted towards a hermeneutic framework influenced by Nietzsche and Husserl.

The third section critically assesses the reception of Dilthey's ideas by later philosophers, including Heidegger and Gadamer. De Mul argues that Dilthey's contributions remain relevant, especially his insights into the contingent and finite nature of human existence.

This work thus situates Dilthey’s philosophy within modern historiography and underscores the hermeneutic dimensions that continue to influence contemporary thought.