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  • Book
  • © 2010

New Contributions to the Philosophy of History

Authors:

  • Applies the perspective of “philosophy of the special sciences” to problems in historical research
  • Examines the thinking and reasoning of some of today’s most talented and innovative historians
  • Contains a wealth of interesting examples of historical explanation

Part of the book series: Methodos Series (METH, volume 6)

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Table of contents (9 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-vii
  2. Introduction: History’s Pathways

    • Daniel Little
    Pages 1-10
  3. History and Narrative

    • Daniel Little
    Pages 11-39
  4. Historical Concepts and Social Ontology

    • Daniel Little
    Pages 41-72
  5. Large Structures

    • Daniel Little
    Pages 73-95
  6. Causal Mechanisms

    • Daniel Little
    Pages 97-120
  7. History of Technology

    • Daniel Little
    Pages 121-140
  8. Economic History

    • Daniel Little
    Pages 141-170
  9. The Involution Debate

    • Daniel Little
    Pages 171-194
  10. Mentalités

    • Daniel Little
    Pages 195-216
  11. Back Matter

    Pages 217-238

About this book

Insights developed in the past two decades by philosophers of the social sciences can serve to enrich the challenging intellectual tasks of conceptualizing, investigating, and representing the human past. Likewise, intimate engagement with the writings of historians can deepen philosophers’ understanding of the task of knowing the past. This volume brings these perspectives together and considers fundamental questions, such as: What is historical causation? What is a large historical structure? How can we best conceptualize “mentalities” and “identities”? What is involved in understanding the subjectivity of historical actors? What is involved in arriving at an economic history of a large region? How are actions and outcomes related? The arguments touch upon a wide range of historical topics -- the Chinese and French Revolutions, the extension of railroads in the nineteenth century, and the development of agriculture in medieval China.

Authors and Affiliations

  • Office of the Chancellor, University of Michigan-Dearborn, Dearborn, USA

    Daniel Little

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access