Scientists See Phenomena, Historians Look for Motives

To the scientist, nature is always and merely a 'phenomenon,' not in the sense of being defective in reality, but in the sense of being a spectacle presented to his intelligent observation; whereas the events of history are never mere phenomena, never mere spectacles for contemplation, but things which the historian looks, not at, but through, to discern the thought within them.

R. G. Colling Wood, The Idea of History (2008-11-30)

• historical methods
• history
• science