Wilhelm Dilthey was a German philosopher and historian, born in 1833 and known for his contributions to the understanding of human experience and the social sciences. He emphasized the importance of humanities in interpreting the meaning of life, arguing that the study of history and culture is essential for understanding human behavior. Dilthey distinguished between the natural sciences and the human sciences, asserting that the latter requires a different approach due to the complexity of human emotions and social contexts. His work laid the foundation for later thinkers in hermeneutics and phenomenology, influencing fields such as psychology and sociology.