The problems with historicism and positivism prompts their adherents to think and interpret ancient and medieval texts by assuming that such authors cannot posit universal truths; rather, all that they say and describe must remain in the context of the time in which they lived, for nothing can transcend those boundaries. If certain aspects of their teachings and musings, however, did cross these boundaries, then perhaps they'd have something to say about our times and that human nature really doesn't change, which implies that social patterns and occurrence would crop up again in a different time and place. In essence, their teachings evince a predictive quality enmeshed in their writings.