Social Psychology Current Events - 1003 Words

Christen See Social Psychology: The Economic Recession According to the financial definition, a recession is a significant decline in activity spread across the economy, lasting longer than a few months. It is visible in industrial production, employment, real income, and wholesale-retail trade. The technical indicator of a recession is two consecutive quarters of negative economic growth as measured by a countrys GDP. (Dictionary.com) A less official and more realistic definition of an economic recession is the social perception of the state of the economy at a given time. The collective beliefs of the public, mainly businesses and consumers, drive the social perception of whether things are seen as positive or negative. Unfortunately†¦show more content†¦(Newman, Lesson 6) Currently, even the wealthiest people in our country have been keeping their wallets tight because of the fear of losing their wealth. This fear is driven by the fact that even people well off have lost everything. E ventually people’s self awareness will create a need to focus on their ideals and move around the fear and begin spending money again. Studies conducted by Roy Baumeister have shown that our capacity for self-control is like a muscle; if you tire it out; you are less able to control yourself in the future and may even react more extremely. (Newman, Lesson 6) These phenomenons have been given the terms ego depletion and rebound effect. I think this applies to the people with jobs and the people with wealth in our country. Eventually this group of people will begin to feel bad for all of the people struggling and their spending self control muscle will weaken causing them to go out and begin spending money again. The rebound effect may influence people to go out and spend money on big ticket items, such as homes and cars that will also have a positive effect on the economy. The social perceptions surrounding the recession are strong influences on every individual’s perso nal economic decision making. Taking into consideration other influences such as the media, possible psychological errors, and personal self awareness and control it is easy to see how the current mood is fairlyShow MoreRelatedFritz Heiders Influence Of Social Psychology884 Words   |  4 PagesAt the beginning of the 1900s, Social Psychology was in its infancy as psychologists studied individuals and how they thought, felt, and behaved in their social environment. Scientific methods were developed to describe, capture, and measure social relationships and their influence. Fritz Heider was such a psychologists and his work still influences social psychology and its research today. Judgement of conduct, a current study by Dr. Wong Yee Cheung, is influenced by the work of Heider. The workRead MoreEvolution of Social Psychology Essay1668 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Social Psychology is one of the younger sub disciplines within the field of Psychology. In the short span in which social psychology has existed, began with the work of the Norman Triplett in the late 1890s. Tripletts work at Indiana University was primarily experimentation with people in competitive settings. Gordon Allport followed Tripletts experimentation with his observations the attitudes of individuals and the study of the self. While these contributions to the history of social psychologyRead MoreA Brief Summary of Milgrams Seminal Research on Obedience to Authority1016 Words   |  5 PagesSocial psychology, as a discipline, has given relatively little attention to the problem of evil in society, and those discussions in this field that do exist typically regard evil actions as only varieties of aggression without any characteristics that distinguish them from other forms of intentional mistreatment of others (Berkowitz, 1999). Because of the fields situationistic perspec tive emphasizing the individuals susceptibility to the power of the immediate situation, social psychologistsRead MoreCurrent Social Issues : Income Inequality767 Words   |  4 Pages 1) Why to study? Overview of current social issues - income inequality Unequal distribution of income has significantly impacted individuals in the global workforce. In particular, the maldistribution of wealth has lead to various issues in the US society as well, not only economically, but also psychologically. Prior research shows that lower income status is positively associated with exposure to stressors and negative life events (Lantz et. al, 2005ï ¼Å' Santiago, Wadsworth Stump, 2011) In otherRead MoreAn Analysis of Seinfeld1508 Words   |  6 PagesSeinfeld Examine the use of stereotypes in the representation of gender, race, and class. Investigate the way social situation is depicted? Describe how the psychology of the characters is simplified or exaggerated and why? Choose the object of analysis In Seinfeld stereotypes are used to show the reflections of different classes of people. For women, this is demonstrated through the various girlfriends that Jerry has and how he is easily able to have a sexual relationship with them. To expandRead Moreh2Colorado State University/h2 h3College of Natural Sciences - Psychology/h3 Founded as an1000 Words   |  4 PagesUniversity/h2 h3College of Natural Sciences - Psychology/h3 Founded as an agriculture college in 1870, Colorado State University has grown into one of the major research universities in the nation. It offers over 150 programs through eight college divisions and prides itself on providing its students with a world-class education. Among the most renowned educational pursuits at CSU are the diverse graduate degree programs available in the field of psychology. Graduate students can choose areas of studyRead MoreInvestigating The Expository Qualification And The Debate Between The Personalistic And Naturalistic Position1574 Words   |  7 Pagesimparted his plans in respect of personalistic and naturalistic position. As a major aspect of this task, the origination of the philosophical perspective was additionally examined, it clarified the improvement and how it develops to present day psychology research. How do the consequences of investigating and considering psychological research help our enthusiasm on individual conduct? Does it give significant proof on their revelations? In this circumstance, we regularly utilize the term historyRead MoreMy Parents Taught Me The Value Of An Education Essay1607 Words   |  7 Pagesthrive and learn about other cultures. This early exposure was a great eye-opener for me – I learnt about racism, classism, and culturally different gender expectations. This was a great learning experience and has informed my interest in studying social justice issues and cultural differences. I was born in Delta State, Nigeria. I am one of eight children. My mother was an orphan and my father lost his own father at the age of 7; both my parents grew up in poverty in Nigeria and managed to succeedRead MoreEssay about Examination of Clinical Psychology1197 Words   |  5 PagesRunning head: EXAMINATION OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY Examination of Clinical Psychology University of Phoenix PST/480 Karen Wilson Nov 14, 2011 Examination of Clinical Psychology Clinical psychology is a very important as well as popular part of the field of psychology that is used very often. To begin, a definition of clinical psychology will be included. According to APA (2009) â€Å"Clinical psychology attempts to use the principles of psychology to better understand, predict, andRead MoreSocial Psychology, By Philip Zimbardo1143 Words   |  5 PagesSocial Psychology is a branch of psychology that tries to find out how people behavior is influenced by others and the development of human interactions. According to the psychology professor and author of the book Fourty Studies that Changed Psychology, Roger Hock: â€Å"Social psychology may also be the research domain that contains the greatest number of landmark studies.† By this being said, social psychology contains a great amount of pioneers that have helped the development of psychology as a science

Weber, the Spirit of Capitalism and the Protestant Ethic

The protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism, by M. Weber I/ What is the spirit of capitalism? According to Marx’s theory, labour is what define oneself in the world and give meaning to one’s life. Weber emphasized that theory when he published in 1904 â€Å"The protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism†. Contrary to what if often thought, capitalism is not an immoderate and immoral seek for money, but a rational and controlled way of doing business. Profitability, which could be defined as the efficiency at generating earnings, is the mean purpose of the capitalistic state of mind. Limitless avidity is not a characteristic of the capitalism spirit but it often get confused with the need of profitability that†¦show more content†¦Thus, Protestantism appeals to seek for overall happiness through work and labour. At least, Weber’s theory also states that work plays a saving part in Protestants’ life, and more specifically offers them a chance to get to an after-life and helps them to stand the pressure of the principle of predestination. What is predestination? The Protestant faith states that only few elected people can have access to the after-life, but unlike Catholicism, there are no criteria on which you can rely on to be sure you will get to Heaven. Hence, to be among the chosen ones, it is a duty to consider oneself chosen, and in order to attain that self-confidence, intense labour is strongly advised by pastors. Predestination also means that there are no hopes for forgiveness, unlike the Catholic faith. One cannot pretend to after life without an entire life of hard and intense labour. Thus, work is for Protestants an act of justification of their faith, a mean to struggle against evil and sin, and a way to get to after-life. This explains why labour has the utmost importance in Protestant’s faith. It is believed that God helps those who help themselves: by working hard, Protestants create their own salvation. One’s duty at work, which is for capitalistic culture a mix between the search of efficiency, profitability and sense of investment, was influenced and eased by the Protestants andShow MoreRelated The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism by Max Weber1103 Words   |  5 PagesWeber saw religion from a different perspective; he saw it as an agent for change. He challenged Marx by saying that religion was not the effect of some economical social or psychological factor. But that religion was used as a way for an explanation of things that cause other things. Because religious forces play an important role in reinforces our modern culture, Weber came to the conclusion that religion serves as both a cause and an effect. Weber didn’t prose a general theory of religion butRead More Summary of Max Webers The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism441 Words   |  2 PagesSummary of Max Webers The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism Max Webers The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism is a study of the relationship between the ethics of ascetic Protestantism and the emergence of the spirit of modern capitalism. Weber argues that the religious ideas of groups such as the Calvinists played a role in creating the capitalistic spirit. Weber first observes a correlation between being Protestant and being involved in business, and declares his intentRead MoreMax Weber s The Protestant Ethic And The Spirit Of Capitalism1722 Words   |  7 Pagesdiverse aspects of some of the most basic human behaviour, particularly focusing on the purpose and the value that human behaviour holds. Max Weber, the highly influential philosopher (born 1864 – died 1920), documented and observed human behaviour, focusing primarily in his text, â€Å"The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism†, on social action. Weber determines that social action is the behaviour or action of an individual, or actor, in the pre sence of another individual. The specific roleRead MoreEssay about Analysis of Max Webers Theory of Capitalism747 Words   |  3 PagesAnalysis of Max Webers Theory of Capitalism Max Weber’s original theory on the rise of Capitalism in Western Europe has been an often studied theory. In its relationship to Protestantism, specifically Calvinism, Weber’s theory has been in scholarly debate since it’s release in 1904. â€Å"The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism† puts forth not capitalism as an institute, but as the precursor to the historical origins of capitalism. Weber’s attempts to use statistical data, as well as churchRead MoreIs Weber s Idea Of Economic Traditionalism1189 Words   |  5 Pagesrelevant to the study of religion? Introduction The core of research on religion at present is of no doubt touching Max Weber’s ideas on economic traditionalism. Weber in Solimano (2012: 42) talked about â€Å"the importance of religion, especially the Protestant ethic† in economic life. By venturing into the field of sociology of religion, Weber further succeeded in arousing many scholars’ interest in the study of different religions in the contemporary world. Agbikimi (2014: 30) notes that â€Å"Weber’s theoryRead MoreNotes on Max Webers The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism859 Words   |  3 Pagesintegration and alienation fit within a modern society. These paradigms combine reflexively into a notion of history. Max Weber was a German politician, scholar, economist, and sociologist. In fact, he founded the modern studies of sociology, public administration, and organizational theory. He was born in 1864 and so was writing and publishing after Marx, but still looking at capitalism, soci alism, and the various dictates of society as ways humans are shaped, actualized, and able to have upward mobilityRead MoreMax Weber s Relation Between Religion And Capitalism1028 Words   |  5 PagesMax Weber is a German sociologist, who studied the relation between religion and capitalism in sociology. His theory brings forth many interesting aspects and point of views. Many could argue of religion’s importance to sociology, but Weber informs us of how big of an aspect religion really is. Max Weber was an interesting man; born in Germany on April 21st, 1864, to Max Weber Sr. his father and Helene Fallenstien Weber his mother. His parents had two very different views on life; his father a politicallyRead MoreKarl Marx And Max Weber Essay1394 Words   |  6 PagesKarl Marx and Max Weber are two great sociologists of the 19th century. They have provided varying interpretations of the rise of capitalism, its nature and their ideas on how society changes. Less than half a century separated Weber from Marx. Published in 1867, the twenty-forth chapter of Capital presents Marx’ views on the genesis of capitalism. Weber’s views crystallized in his best-known work – The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism – where he traced the impact of ascetic ProtestantismRead MoreKarl Marx And Max Weber1324 Words   |  6 Pagesand Max Weber were influential sociologists that paved the way for modern sociological school of thought. Both, Karl Marx and Max Weber contributed a lot to the study and foundation of sociology. Without their contributions sociology would not be as prominent as it is today. From the contribution of how sociology should be studied, to how they applied their theories to everyday life has influenced many sociologists. Predominantly, both of these theorists’ discussed the effects of capitalism, how itRead MoreMarx s Theory Of Historical Materialism1495 Words   |  6 PagesCapitalism is an economic system in a society in which private owners control industry and trade within a country, rather than the state. Both Karl Marx and Max Weber, have written theories on how this system develops in countries and creates a nation state that is characterised by production and wealth. Marx’s theory takes more of a top-down approach, suggesting that people have little power in how their society is run. On the other hand, Weber’s bottom-up approach demonstrates how people have the

Emily s The Rat Poison - 975 Words

Days before the arrival of Homer Barron, Miss. Emily went to get arsenic which is rat poison and when the druggist asked her what the rat poison is for she did not answer him and just looked at him. By doing so Miss. Emily was able to get the rat poison without an explanation. The whole town started to think that the rat poison was to put an end to her own life. Now Miss. Emily is patiently awaiting the arrival of her â€Å"lover† Homer Barron. Homer makes his way to her back door and she welcomes him inside. â€Å"Hello, Homer it is nice seeing you again,† Emily says with happiest in her voice. Homer replies, â€Å"How have you been Emily?† Homer beings making his way over to Emily. Emily asks â€Å"Would you care for a drink?† â€Å"I could go for some water. Thank you.† Emily gets both him and her a glass of water but while doing so, she gets some of the arsenic that she had purchased a few days before. She carefully puts some into Homer’s glass of water. While Emily hands Homer his glass of water she says â€Å"I have been decent except for the fact that you have been telling everyone throughout the town that we were intimate together and that you had no intention of marrying me.† Homer looks at Emily with great despise. â€Å"Where would you get an idea like that Emily? I would never intentionally hurt you in any way† Homer says with sarcasm in his voice. â€Å"I really find that hard to believe Homer. My father lied to me my whole life about men and always tried to keep me from falling in loveShow MoreRelatedA Rose For Emily By William Faulkner958 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"A Rose for Emily† is a tragic story written by William Faulkner. It opens up describing a funeral arrangement made for Miss Emily Grierson. Nobody had been to Miss Emily’s house in ten years besides her servant. The story then jumps to thirty years earlier, in which we find out the mystery behind what happened with Miss troubled Emi ly Grierson and her relationship with a man named Homer. Faulkner’s use of suspense in this story keeps the readers on their edge. `In the beginning of the story, thereRead MoreThe Death Of Homer Barron958 Words   |  4 Pagesthe suspicious death of Homer Barron, there is no one else that could have perpetrated the crime other than Miss Emily Grierson herself. Emily was not a stable woman and it was hard for her to accept the loss of someone. Homer not interested in commitment, while Emily wanted nothing more than to be married. By killing Homer, she would ensure that her love would never abandon her. Emily was an odd woman in general. Mental illness ran in her family- her great-aunt had gone completely crazy (II) SheRead MoreThe Price Of Neglect By William Faulkner And The Play Trifles920 Words   |  4 PagesThe Price of Neglect In the short story â€Å"A Rose with Emily† written by William Faulkner and the play Trifles written by Stilwell, the authors discusses how society treatment of individuals can impact society. In â€Å"A Rose with Emily†, the author uses foreshadowing, symbolism and figurative language. While, Trifles uses irony, conflict and symbolism. Although both author does a remarkable job, Trifles writing was superior by a mile. However their theme is still about respect and neglectfulness. TheseRead MoreWhy Misfits Is An American Serial Killer1379 Words   |  6 Pagesdifferent stories or poems. Some instances of the Misfit could be found in Emily from the story â€Å"A Rose for Emily,† and the father in the poem â€Å"My Papa’s Waltz.† Emily and the father share the same aspects of behavior and frame of mind when dealing with social encounters. â€Å"A Rose for Emily† is a short story written by an American author, William Faulkner, who centers the story around a character named â€Å"Emily.† Miss Emily Grierson is a true Misfit in the story because her character is portrayed asRead MoreSymbolism And Mystery Of Emily By William Faulkner887 Words   |  4 PagesWilliam Faulkner gave his character Emily Grierson chief physiognomies such as; traditional, stubborn, lonely, and also unfortunate. He displays symbolism and mystery in this particular short story and depicts how she faced several difficulties during the course of her entire life. Emily Grierson lost her father around thirty years ago and she didn’t interact with her townspeople anymore. Emily’s house was no longer the best looking house because it was decaying and becoming dustier. The new generationRead MoreThe Demise Of Homer Barron1349 Words   |  6 PagesDemise of Homer Barron In William Faulkner’s short story, â€Å"A Rose for Emily,† Ms. Emily Grierson, the title character in the story, is a very peculiar character. Introverted from society, trapped in a world of misconceptions, Emily never receives any psychiatric treatment, but she definitely exhibits symptoms of a mental illness. By examining Emily’s behavior and her social relationships, it is possible to conclude that Emily was mentally unstable and possessed a personal motivation to kill HomerRead MoreThe Pursuit Of Love Changes People. William Faulkner’S1554 Words   |  7 PagesFaulkner’s â€Å"A Rose for Emily† presents a story of Miss Emily Grierson’ life through the narrator who portrays the collective conscious of the entire town. The town displays a negative view towards her and through that lense, the narrator describes different parts of her life, particularly her love life. The journey through Miss Emily’s love reveals how past ex periences can immensely affect the necessity for one’s actions and fulfillment of her desire. The fantasies of both Miss Emily and the town TheRead MoreCritical Analysis : A Rose For Emily970 Words   |  4 PagesCritical Analysis Essay- A Rose for Emily In the story â€Å"A Rose for Emily† we look into the depths of the demented mind of Miss Emily Grierson. Born and raised during the mid-1800’s in the fictional city of Jefferson, Mississippi in the fictional county of Yoknapatawha. The story begins in its present time of approximately 1934 A.D. at her funeral and courses back through her life to the many points of tragedy she endured. As you finish this story the first time, you might consider it as a darkRead More Wiliam Faulkners Emily Rose Character Analysis Essay examples654 Words   |  3 PagesAll Roses Are Red Unreasonably determined to exert one?s own will is the definition of the word stubborn. William Faulkner is a southern writer who focuses in his work on human experiences and behavior influenced by the South, the Civil War, and the post Civil War effects. In Faulkners, A Rose for Emily, Faulkner constantly depicts Emily as a stubborn character, especially stubborn about changing her way of life. Faulkner uses subtle clues from diction and description as well as obviousRead MoreAnalysis Of William Faulkner s A Rose For Emily1526 Words   |  7 PagesRose for Emily.† William Faulkner is the author of â€Å"A Rose for Emily.† In â€Å"A Rose for Emily† the story starts off at Emily’s funeral, and the whole town is there too. The men went out of respect for losing a person who had been a citizen of Jefferson for a long time, and the women went because they wanted to see what her house looked like because only a select few have seen it in the last couple d ecades. The rest of the story is her past, when she was living. In the beginning Ms. Emily gets a note

Coaching and mentoring free essay sample

Historical studies came into their own following the immense political and social upheavals associated with the French Revolution (1789-1815). The French Revolution represented a massive break with the past and, paradoxically, made people much more â€Å"history-conscious† than ever before. Thus, it was in the nineteenth century that history became the â€Å"Queen of the Sciences† and earned a permanent place in the academy. The man responsible for elevating the study of history to a new plateau was the German historian Leopold von Ranke (1795-1886). Ranke’s contribution were threefold: (1) he played a leading role in establishing history as a respected discipline in the universities, (2) he firmly established the notion that all sound history must be based on primary sources and a rigorous methodology, and (3) he reflected the broader nineteenth-century attempt to define the concept of â€Å"historical-mindedness†. This essay seeks to analyse Leopold von Ranke’s contribution to the study of history. Syracuse University has long nourished a special memory of the great nineteenth century German historian, Leopold von Ranke, the father of modem history. Ranke is to historians what Darwin is to biologists and Freud to psychologists, the revered author of the disciplines methods and the presiding personality from an age when science promised so much for the betterment of humanity. During the last century earnest American students who hoped to elevate American intellectual life to European standards flocked in particular to Germany so that they might come into contact with the most advanced learning. The German influence, in fact, decidedly altered American education from garten fur kinder (kinder-garten) to post graduate professional training The German historian Leopold von Ranke was born in Germany in 1795. His first major work, History of the Latin and Teutonic nations, 1494-1535, was published late in 1824. This was based on archival research, viewed by Ranke as the foundation of all historical work, and it established his reputation as a historian. The most influential part of the work was its appendix in which he assessed previous literature on the basis of the critical analysis of sources. For him, this was scholarly history. It was in the preface to his work that he stated his often quoted dictum, that he was writing history as it had actually occurred,’wie es eigentlich gewesen’. He argued that  historians should disregard sources such as personal memoirs and texts written after the event they focus on, and base their findings solely on contemporary, or primary sources. These, he advocated, should be scrutinized and criticized so historians are in the best possible position to reconstruct historic al events. Due to the success of his work, Ranke was appointed Professor of History at the University of Berlin. Ranke went abroad late in 1827 and remained away for over three years, researching in Vienna, Florence, Rome and Venice. He had personal connections that he put to good use to secure access to previously closed archives. The following years were marked with publications mainly on the history of the Mediterranean countries and Germany. Particularly noteworthy are the conspiracy against Venice (1831), History of the popes (1834-36), History of Germany during the Reformation (1839-47) and the History of Prussia (1847-8). Furthermore, Ranke trained the first generation of ‘modern professional historians’ at Berlin, including Georg Waitz and Jakob Burckhardt. King Maximilian II of Bavaria was inspired by him to establish a Historical Commission within the Bavarian academy of Sciences to which Ranke was appointed as chairman in 1815. During his later years Ranke wrote national histories for each of the major states of Europe, including his History of France (1852-61), History of England (1859-68) and The German powers and the Princes ‘league (1871). As Ranke’s reputation continued to grow, he was awarded many honours: he was granted entry to the hereditary nobility, adding ‘von’ to his surname in 1865 and he was made an honorary citizen of Berlin in 1885. Ranke’s university career concluded in 1871 when he retired from his chair at Berlin. Nonetheless by the time of his death in Berlin in 1886, he had completed nine volumes of his Universal history . Leopold von Ranke endeavored to understand political order within its own historical context. To understand the nature of historical phenomena, such as institution or an idea, one had to consider its historical development and the changes it underwent over a period of time. Historical epochs, Ranke argued, should not be judged according to predetermined contemporary values or ideas. Rather, they had to be understood on their own terms by empirically establishing history ‘as things really were’. Ranke emphasized both ‘individuality’ and ‘development’ in history. Each historical phenomenon, epoch and event had its own individuality and it was the task of  the historian to establish its essence. According to Ranke, one should not make moral judgment on past individuals and past cultures but try to understand them on their own terms. To do this, historians had to immense themselves in the epoch and assess it in a manner appropriate for that time. They had, in Ranke’s words, ‘to extinguish’ their own personality . Furthermore, Ranke was convinced in all his work that there was meaning and coherence in history and that the established political institutions embodied moral forces, yet he rejected the reduction of history to a grand scheme . In Ranke’s opinion, the historian had to proceed from the particular or the individual to the general, not the reverse, and it was the particular that opened the path to an understanding of the great moral forces manifest in history. With his seminar program at the University of Berlin, Ranke set a model for training historians in systematic, critical research methods, which was copied throughout the world as history became a professional discipline. Ranke made important contributions to the emergence of modern history and is generally recognized as the father of the ‘scientific’ historical school of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Due to him, methodical principles of archival research and source criticism became commonplace in academic institutions. Despite being described by many scholars of the twentieth century as a historian only dealing with political history and history of great powers, Ranke actually dealt with cultural history as well. In many of his works cultural history may be only mentioned briefly, but in some cases Ranke dedicated a full chapter to the history of literature. For example in his History of England, one can find a full chapter on the literature during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. it covers nearly 20 pages. In an eighty-five page article from 1835 Ranke dealt only with the history of Italian literature. Ranke wrote not only on German history, but the history of a number of states in the nineteenth-century Europe. His historical writing created an awareness of their own history in a number of states, like in Ireland, Serbia and Germany, and an international network of historians developed. The network consisted on many European scholars, societies and associations and included personal connections, presentations and exchange off journals. This network is also evidence for the exchange of information amongst scholars within Europe. As long as the sources were indicated, Ranke preferred the free exchange of  information because it was only in that way that history could continue to develop. Rankean exercises, which during the nineteenth century were institutionalized in historical seminars, offered an alternative venue for the training of students. As the discipline globalized, such seminars were established across the world. If history students seldom were working in archives, they acquired their disciplinary identity as archival researchers, including the philological preference for written texts, through these seminars. The â€Å"function† of the modern history professor, Jameson explained in 1902, was â€Å"in writing or causing young men to write, or in showing them how others have written, and how they themselves might write†. When Frederick Jackson Turner started teaching historical seminars in Madison, Wisconsin in the 1890s, he adopted the motto that â€Å"all history is comment on atext.† In France, Charles-Victor Langlois and Charles Seignobos opened their 1898 methodological textbook, intended for students in historical seminars, with this declaration: â€Å"History is done with documents†. Lacking documents, the history of immense periods of the past of humankind is forever unknowable. For nothing can replace documents: no documents, no history. Ranke believed that there is no place or room for the historian’s own opinion in historical writing. If we want to establish, ‘how things really were’, we have to view and analyse the time period and how issues were viewed at that time. It is and continues to be true that ‘history will always be rewritten,’ as Ranke wrote into his diary in the 1840s . History should never be viewed from one-side. In his Epochs about the Modern History Ranke noted: ‘The truth lies possibly in the middle. Baur analysed how critics from the left and right dealt with Ranke and he came to the conclusion that ‘whoever misuses history to satisfy ideological needs can never accept Ranke’s histories, critical source- based science, and its autonomous movements’. As much as possible, we should try not to let ourselves get carried away with today’s views or ideological ideas. After all, if we believe what Ranke said, we are indeed a product of th e historical moment in which we live. Although he made a huge impact on nineteenth and twentieth-century historiography and many of his books became and remained standard works, Ranke’s methods and theories have proved to be controversial. For instance, in 1980 A.G Dickens investigated Ranke as a Reformation historian. He analyzed Ranke’s personal connection with religion before discussing Ranke’s History of the Reformation in Germany and the Peasant’s Revolt of 1524-25. Dickens compared Ranke with a number of other historians and pointed out that Ranke simply copied earlier works on the reformation. On Ranke’s career, Dickens wrote that ‘the general direction of his early progress was from the airy-fairy to the nitty-gritty’. Dickens concluded that ‘a good deal has been written concerning Ranke’s philosophy of history, but personally I cannot see that he possessed any mental contraption which deserved so grandiose a title’. Many scholars have written on Ranke and analyzed his understanding of history. The meaning of Ranke’s aim to study the past â€Å"from what actually happened† has been the subject of much debate among historians. Historians, Ranke claimed, should stick to the facts and there should be no evidence of their views and commitments in their writing. It is only when they remove all trace of themselves that they can revive the past. More recent commentators such as Iggers have argued that such a translation is not accurate because it does not reveal Ranke’s ‘idealistic’ conception of history. He pointed out that the term ‘eigntlich’ does not only mean ‘actually’ but also ‘essentially’ or ‘characteristically’. The translation of Ranke’s quotation into English has its problems. One thing is certain, however, Ranke’s famous sentence is a conscious formula that contains a very complex meaning. The word ‘blob’ shows Ranke’s modesty while the word ‘eigentlich’ touches on issues like ‘truth’ and ‘the greatest good’. The translation ‘happened’ describes an event or condition; it does not describe a development. The usual translation ‘how it really was’ is too short and does not describe what Ranke intended to say. As a more correct translation, I would suggest ‘how things really were’. Finally, it is clear that Ranke’s historical approach differed widely from his contemporaries. He did not follow the Romantic Movement, nor did he compose providential history, or become friendly with the ideas of Social Darwinism. He followed the Continental tradition of rationalism and realism. This is probably the reason why Ranke on one hand is highly respected, on  the other hand highly criticized. I personally fully agree with his research methods and embrace the enormous contribution he made in the development of historiography and history as a discipline. Certainly his methods are still valid today and widely used, no matter what kind of history we study.