JÚLIA BESSADA RODRIGUES

The interpretation of human creations, such as literary works and language, runs through Herder's philosophy, spanning from his early writings to his maturity. In the book Also a Philosophy of History, published in 1774, Herder extends the genetic method beyond literary criticism to the fields of history and anthropology. In his view, humanity's past can be understood through the interpretation conducted by those who analyze it. However, Herder questions whether it is possible to approach history and other peoples without being influenced by the particular perspective of the interpreter. His proposal seeks to understand human actions within their specific context of time and place, while also considering their relation to a broader divine design. Our research aims to clarify the tension in Herder's philosophy of history, which takes into account multiple possible perspectives and seeks to indicate how the interpreter should analyze human creations. Thus, we investigate the meaning of the genetic method proposed by Herder and how he conceives the interpreter's role in analyzing the past. Our goal is to deepen the understanding of his philosophy, highlighting the status of history.