Yes, the intellectual historian's job is to make sense of paradigm shifts and understand the broader intellectual and cultural climate of the times they study. This involves not only understanding the explicit ideas and arguments that were being put forward by thinkers of the time, but also the implicit zeitgeist or the underlying assumptions, values, and beliefs that shaped their thinking.
By understanding the implicit zeitgeist of the time, the intellectual historian can gain insight into the broader cultural and intellectual trends that were shaping the ideas and arguments of the thinkers they are studying. This can help to provide context for their ideas and clarify the significance of their contributions to the broader intellectual and cultural landscape of their time.
For example, in the case of Whitehead's influence by quantum physics, understanding the implicit zeitgeist of the time can help us to understand why his ideas about process philosophy and the interconnectedness of reality were so influential. It can help us to see how his ideas were part of a broader movement of thinkers who were seeking to reconcile the insights of science with the traditional philosophical questions of metaphysics and epistemology.
In conclusion, understanding the implicit zeitgeist of the times we study is an important part of the intellectual historian's job, as it can help to provide context for the ideas and arguments of the thinkers they are studying and shed light on the broader cultural and intellectual trends of the time.
