Abstract

Gramsci's historicism is defined as a general philosophy of social explanation. It offers a number of epistemological, ontological, and methodological principles which are developed on the basis of four uses of the term 'historicism' found in the Quaderni del Carcere. These are related to historical time, historical necessity, realism, and humanism. ;After a general description of various forms of historicism, Gramsci's use of the term 'historicism' is analyzed. The argument focuses on his definition of 'historicism' as realism. The ambiguities of some of his concepts are elucidated, and an alternative interpretation of some of his theses will be offered. ;In the second chapter, the four uses of historicism previously elucidated are given a general interpretation in terms of related historical, sociological, and political analysis in the Quaderni. The attempt is made to show that Gramsci strove to integrate history and social theory, and to provide a theory of causality, and a methodology for what he called integral history. ;Finally, in the third chapter a general outline of Gramsci's theory of history and his dual conception of politics is offered. The discussion centres on two related topics. First, Gramsci's conception of the relation between structure and superstructure within a historical bloc is given an interpretation that seems most consistent with his conception of historicism, and in particular with his notion of historical time. ;Secondly, the related concepts of hegemony, civil society, and state are discussed. The discussion centres mainly on the function of hegemony, civil society, power, and the state in the relations between structure and superstructure discussed earlier. The attempt is made to provide a tentative definition of Gramsci's essentialism. ;Although the Prison Notebooks are unfinished, and often inconsistent, the analysis of the uses and functions of Gramsci's concept of 'historicism' offers a possible framework with which to study his thought in the Quaderni