oa Universele ervaringen?

Universal experiences?

This reflection examines the sedimented layer of experiences arising from the Covid-19 pandemic and how they foster heightened empathy, benefiting the hermeneutic tradition and, specifically, the history of experience. But there are also challenges. The pandemic has created a deeper connection between the present and the past, generating feelings of universality and shared experiences. This can lead to homogenisation, where the experiences of different times are not properly differentiated. Historians must be aware of this tendency. Nonetheless, this surge in empathy reveals historical insights that were not considered before the pandemic. It allows historians to understand past crises more empathetically, recognising the commonality of human experiences during difficult times; it presents an opportunity for richer historical interpretations and a deeper understanding of the human condition.