History

Professor Orens holistic approach in the study of Western civilization may be described as discontinuous and almost rhetorical. It is discontinuous in the sense that analysis of relevant subjects (for example, the idea of scientific revolution) is assumed to be related or correlated with the collective action of individuals. For example, the scientific revolution was the result of innovation and modernistic thinking hence, the work of various philosophers, artists, and social thinkers. Indeed, according to Professor Orens, it is impossible to isolate the study of Western civilization without due reference to its creators and actualities. Creators refer to the initiators of change  the inventors of ideas and concepts. Actualities may refer to the historical milieu to which the innovations are located. Creators and actualities are motors of cultural development.
   
The approach is almost rhetorical in the sense that analysis of ideastopics are imbued with rhetorical questions  questions which encourage the human mind to criticize, synthesize, and absorb relevant ideas. Indeed, throughout the professors lecture, topics are presented thematically. For example, Professor Orens discussion on Marxian philosophy was separated from the discussion of pure atheism (which was advocated by Nietzsche) and naturalism (Darwin). As such, Professor Orens regarded Marxian philsophy was not the outcome of atheism  atheism being in existence for more than 500 years  it was the antecedent of crude socialism. Naturalism was also presented as the antecedent of modern scientific thinking. Atheism based on naturalism was only a consequence of naturalism, not otherwise. Thematic presentation of historical events seemed to the common learner an effective way of dealing with academic uncertainty.
   
Professor Wades lecture is overtly comprehensive and narrowly specific. A historical event (for example, the discussion of Russian history) is assumed to be a starting point of microcosmic relations. For example, the Russian Revolution may be viewed as a shift of political and economic ideology. Indeed, the Russian Revolution became the formal ideological base of other historical events (for example, the foundation of the German Communist Party).
   
Professor Wades approach is overtly comprehensive because it tackled the primary variables of causation (and its antecedents). A primary cause, as one observed, is assumed to be inherently related to other probable causes. For example, the emergence of Russian socialism was the result of economic depression, Czarist oppression, and political turmoil in urban centers. As such, the overthrow of the Russian monarchy can be attributed to two types of causes immediate and indirect causes.
   
The approach is narrowly specific because it tackled the specifics of a particular topic. For example, Professor Wade discussion of the Russian Revolution was divided into several parts 1) a discussion of indirect causes, 2) the outbreak of the Revolution, and 3) the outcomes of the Revolution. Indeed, to substantiate primary knowledge, there is a need (as observed in the lecture) to categorically differentiate actual and immediate sense of reification. A historical event must be in connivance with prevailing ideology  as ideology often determines the essence or nature of an event.