Philosophical ideas of different schools such as Confucian, Taoist, Legalist, Mohist, Nominalist, Military Strategist, Yin and Yang, and Agriculturist in periods prior to the Qin Dynasty (221-202 B.C) are expounded and analyzed against their times in the book. Advantages and disadvantages of different theoretical functions are also investigated from a critical perspective. In addition, the book presents the authors'personal views on the category of Chinese philosophy and the relations between traditional Chinese thoughts and modern sciences.

本书厘清了何谓历史,何谓历史学,何谓历史学家等基本概念;认为历史的发展有其必然性与偶然性,而人类的历史是由自由人的自由意志作用的结果;历史学家对过去所构思出来的那幅历史图像,乃是他自己思想的外烁.

本书收录何兆武先生的读书心得,通过回忆与师友一起读书,交流,工作的岁月,从一个侧面回顾了20世纪上半叶中国历史上一代学者的思想成就,桥接了新旧两个时代的思想与历史,触摸到一个历史时代的灵魂.

本书为作者近年最新论述的结集，主要论域为西方思想与历史哲学。收入论文30余篇，分为四辑：康德历史思想研究之专题；历史哲学之探讨；中西文化之交流；中国现代思想史之雪泥鸿爪。.