Italian histories of the most recent events afford instances of such fluctuations. For instance, in the period of the Risorgimento, the prevailing interest regarded as supremely important and historical, the formation of Italian nationality, the constitution of the middle class and of the commune, and popular rebellions against foreigners or against tyrants. Now it is the social problem and the socialist movement that dominate, and preference is given to histories of economic facts, of class struggles and of movements of the proletariat. [Sidenote: _Professional prejudice and the theory of the practical character of history._] Practical preoccupations are so strong with any one engaged in a given trade, even though it is that of a maker of books of history, as to suggest almost inevitably the strange doctrine of the _practical_ character of history, or the non-theoretic character of that form, which is the crowning result of the theoretic spirit, and which alone gives full truth--if truth is the Knowledge of Reality, and if Reality is history. [Footnote 1: See on this point my _Philosophy of the Practical,_ part i. sect. ii. chaps, v.-vi.] [Footnote 2: See above, Part I. Sect. I. Chap. IV.] IV IDENTITY OF PHILOSOPHY AND HISTORY [Sidenote: _Necessity of the historical element in philosophy._] The necessity of philosophy as a condition of history has been made evident from the preceding considerations. It is now necessary to affirm with no less clearness the necessity of history for philosophy. If history is impossible without the logical, that is, the philosophical, element, philosophy is not possible without the intuitive, or historical element.