Manifestations of naturalistic approach to history

The article discusses the nature and manifestations of naturalistic approach in interpretation of history. As manifestations of naturalistic approach in the understanding of history considered, first, the transfer history of the laws of nature (real or imaginary) attempts to link nature and history in a single chain of development. In this regard, provides a critical assessment of the views of I.G. Gerder, H. Spencer, concepts of evolutionism and the concept of “universal history”. In article the author consider, and secondly, attempts to set as the driving forces of history, certain natural conditions and influence. In this regard involved the views of geographical determinism, racial approach to history, social Darwinism, ideas of Russian scientist A.L. Chizhevsky. The conclusion is that history belongs to Man, not nature, and nature is not the driving force of history, though certain effect arising from the nature and changes occurring in it affect directly or indirectly on the social development. As an expression of the naturalistic approach to history are discussed, thirdly, the attempts to bring the methodology of historical knowledge to the methodology of science. In this regard, it critically examines the philosophical views of positivism are also assessed attempts to use historical knowledge of the unit of synergetics. There is the next general conclusion: because of fundamental differences of historical reality from the natural there are fundamental limitations on the use of naturalistic models and methods to history.