The Historians' Paradox : The Study of History in Our Time / Peter Charles Hoffer.
2008
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Title
The Historians' Paradox : The Study of History in Our Time / Peter Charles Hoffer.
ISBN
9780814790854
Published
New York, NY : New York University Press, [2008]
Copyright
©2008
Language
English
Language Note
In English.
Description
1 online resource
Other Standard Identifiers
10.18574/nyu/9780814790854.001.0001 doi
Dewey Decimal Classification
901
Summary
How do we know what happened in the past? We cannot go back, and no amount of historical data can enable us to understand with absolute certainty what life was like "then." It is easy to demolish the very idea of historical knowing, but it is impossible to demolish the importance of historical knowing. In an age of cable television pundits and anonymous bloggers dueling over history, the value of owning history increases at the same time as our confidence in history as a way of knowing crumbles. Historical knowledge thus presents a paradox - the more it is required, the less reliable it has become. To reconcile this paradox - that history is impossible but necessary - Peter Charles Hoffer proposes a practical, workable philosophy of history for our times, one that is robust and realistic, and that speaks to anyone who reads, writes and teaches history.Covering a sweeping range of philosophies (from ancient history to game theory), methodological approaches to writing history, and the advantages and disadvantages of different strategies of argument, Hoffer constructs a philosophy of history that is reasonable, free of fallacy, and supported by appropriate evidence that is itself tenable.
Access Note
Access limited to authorized users.
System Details Note
Mode of access: Internet via World Wide Web.
Digital File Characteristics
text file PDF
Source of Description
Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (publisher's Web site, viewed 29. Jun 2022)
Series
International Humanities ; 1
Available in Other Form
print 9780814737149
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Table of Contents
Frontmatter
Contents
Preface
Introduction
1 It Would Be Logical to Assume . . .
2 What's Wrong with This Argument?
3 Historians and the Loaded Question
4 Cause for Alarm
5 One of Us Is Lying
6 The Politics of History and History in Politics
7 Historians in the Marketplace
8 Uncertainties
9 Historians Confront the Problem of Evil
Conclusion
Glossary
A Very Brief Bibliographical Essay
Index
About the Author
Contents
Preface
Introduction
1 It Would Be Logical to Assume . . .
2 What's Wrong with This Argument?
3 Historians and the Loaded Question
4 Cause for Alarm
5 One of Us Is Lying
6 The Politics of History and History in Politics
7 Historians in the Marketplace
8 Uncertainties
9 Historians Confront the Problem of Evil
Conclusion
Glossary
A Very Brief Bibliographical Essay
Index
About the Author