In this essay, the gradual transition from ancient "history of the philosophers" to modern "history of philosophy" is presented according to its essential steps and in the light of the dialectic between tradition and innovation that characterizes any philosophical dialogue considered in a diachronic sense. At the same time, however, the essay raises the question of the sense according to which it is nowadays still possible to think of a "history of philosophy" as a research activity distinct both from philosophical hermeneutics and from strictly historical research, such as the one carried out by intellectual history
Tradition; Innovation; Historiography of Philosophy