논쟁사를 통해서 본 한국 서양사학의 자기이해 — 한국 독일사학회 현황과 방향을 중심으로 —

Abstract

Clearly, big data-based digital technology is the main industry of the Republic of Korea and the leading field of the world. Nevertheless, a new historical methodology based on digital technology is being tried in Western history. History based on digital technology at the beginning stage has yet to produce accurate methodologies or tangible results. But it is only a matter of time and is expected to change the paradigm of history in the near future. Under these circumstances, digital technology, which is leading the fourth industrial revolution, is expected to make new breakthroughs in Korean and German studies as well as Korean Western history. Of course, digital technology cannot be the only key to solving the problems faced by Korean Western history. However, none of the new attempts to transcend existing methodologies in times of historical crisis are more extensive than those based on digital technology and are most suitable for changing the times. In particular, the fact that this field is on the starting line all over the world gives us a lot of meaning. Just as the boundaries between studies in the humanities have become meaningless, the boundaries between natural sciences and humanities are also about to be broken down. At this point, Korean Western history may be forced to recognize itself for its future. The stable environment of university has even become suspicious of its existence, and new digital technology is disabling the function of history as ‘knowledge’. Whatever it may be, the future of Western history is not so bright. Therefore, it is time to start anew the self-awareness of Western history. Such recognition means destroying existing regionalism and reconstructing it from a huge framework called “history,” as emphasized by Kim Ki-bong. And the paradigm shift brought by the fourth industrial revolution is forcing new changes in history as well.