An Introduction to the Philosophy of History

by Stanford, Michael

• ISBN13: 9780631199397
• ISBN10: 063119939X
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1998-02-04
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Summary

This book uncovers the wealth of philosophical problems that history presents, and encourages further thought on how these issues grow out of historical questions. Its focus on the convergence of history, philosophy and social science makes it ideal for use on undergraduate courses in philosophy of history and philosophy of social science.Beginning with an energetic and lucid discussion covering traditional issues such as epistemology and metaphysics, the author continues to explore in more detail the current debates surrounding philosophical issues of concern to both history and the social sciences. Tackling a wide range of topics such as truth, objectivity, explanation, communication and narrative, gender, deconstruction and postmodernism, the book affords students in philosophy and social science departments a deeper and wider perspective on the philosophical problems within their areas of study.

Author Biography

Michael Stanford held the position of Senior Lecturer in History at the University of the West of England until his retirement in 1983. He co-edits the journal Cogito and is the author of The Nature of Historical Knowledge (1986) and a Companion of the Study of History (1994).

Table of Contents

Preface	vii
Introduction	1	(19)
1 The Importance and Fascination of History	1	(2)
2 Philosophical Peculiarities of History	3	(2)
3 Contemporary Neglect of the Philosophy of History	5	(3)
4 Present State of Philosophy of History	8	(3)
5 How Philosophy of History Relates to Other Disciplines	11	(1)
6 Philosophy of History and Contemporary Concerns	12	(2)
7 Future Possibilities of the Philosophy of History	14	(6)
1 History, Philosophy and the Social Sciences	20	(30)
1 Corners	20	(3)
2 History and Social Science: the Right-hand Side	23	(14)
3 Philosophy and Social Science: the Base	37	(5)
4 Philosophy and History: the Left-hand Side	42	(8)
2 Main Themes	50	(35)
1 The Problem of Objectivity	50	(4)
2 Objectivity in History	54	(6)
3 Evidence	60	(6)
4 Truth	66	(4)
5 Social Processes and Frameworks	70	(4)
6 Teleology	74	(3)
7 Pattern, Structure and Colligation	77	(8)
3 Causes and Explanations	85	(24)
1 Causes	85	(8)
2 Explanation in General	93	(7)
3 Statistical Explanation	100	(9)
4 Explanations in the Social Sciences and in History	109	(36)
1 Explanation in the Social Sciences	109	(13)
2 Explanation in History	122	(23)
5 Science, History and Historicism	145	(22)
1 Science and History	145	(3)
2 Structure, Time and Meaning	148	(6)
3 Historicism	154	(13)
6 Mind	167	(16)
1 Mind and the Historian	167	(3)
2 Imagination and Understanding	170	(8)
3 Action	178	(5)
7 Meaning	183	(23)
1 Language	183	(4)
2 Hermeneutics	187	(13)
3 Political Correctness	200	(6)
8 `Only Connect'	206	(21)
1 Communication and Culture	206	(7)
2 Narrative	213	(14)
9 The End of History?	227	(37)
1 The Linguistic Turn in History	227	(5)
2 The Loss of the Object	232	(10)
3 From the Enlightenment to Postmodernity	242	(12)
4 An Unceasing Conversation	254	(10)
Bibliography	264	(13)
Index	277