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Methodology of History

  • Book
  • © 1976

Overview

Authors:
  1. Jerzy Topolski
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Part of the book series: Synthese Library (SYLI, volume 88)

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Table of contents (28 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-x
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  2. Introduction

    1. Introduction

      • Jerzy Topolski
      Pages 1-7

  3. Methodology and History

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 9-9
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    2. The Subject Matter of the Methodology of Sciences

      • Jerzy Topolski
      Pages 11-29

    3. The Subject Matter of the Methodology of History

      • Jerzy Topolski
      Pages 30-45

    4. The Scope of the Subject Matter (Domain) of Historical Research

      • Jerzy Topolski
      Pages 46-56

  4. Patterns of Historical Research

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 57-57
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    2. Grounds for Classification

      • Jerzy Topolski
      Pages 59-66

    3. Pragmatic Reflection

      • Jerzy Topolski
      Pages 67-77

    4. Critical Reflection

      • Jerzy Topolski
      Pages 78-95

    5. Erudite and Genetic Reflection

      • Jerzy Topolski
      Pages 96-123

    6. Structural Reflection

      • Jerzy Topolski
      Pages 124-168

    7. Logical Reflection

      • Jerzy Topolski
      Pages 169-192

    8. Dialectical Reflection

      • Jerzy Topolski
      Pages 193-216

  5. The Objective Methodology of History

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 217-217
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    2. Historical Facts

      • Jerzy Topolski
      Pages 219-238

    3. The Process of History (Causality and Determinism)

      • Jerzy Topolski
      Pages 239-274

    4. The Process of History (Historical Regularities)

      • Jerzy Topolski
      Pages 275-301

  6. The Pragmatic Methodology of History Theory of Source-Based and Non-Source-Based Knowledge

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 303-303
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    2. The Nature of Historical Cognition

      • Jerzy Topolski
      Pages 305-359
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Keywords

About this book

No discipline has been more praised or more criticized than the writing of history. Cioero claimed that history teaches men how to live. Aris­ totle denied it the very name of science and regwded poetry as the higher wisdom. At various times history has been assigned a command­ ing or a demeaning statIUs in the hierarchy of sciences. Today one can admire the increasing precision and sophistication of the methods used by historia:ns. On the other hand, Thucydides' History of the PeZo­ ponesian War still serves as the ideal model of how to reconstruct the historical past. Even those who deny the possibility of an objective reconstruction of the past would themselves likie to be recorded by historians, "objectively" or not. Dislike of history and fear of its verdict are not incompatible with reverence and awe for its practitioners, the historians. So man's attitude to history is ambiguous. The controversy about history continues. Widely differing issues are at stake. Historians themselves, however, are the least engaged in the struggle. Rarely does a historian decide to open the door of his study and join in the melee about the meaning of history. More often he slams it shut and returns to his studies, oblivious of the fact that with the passage of thne the gap between his scientific work and its audience might widen. The historian does not shun the battle, he merely chooses his own battleground.

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Methodology of History

  • Authors: Jerzy Topolski

  • Series Title: Synthese Library

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-1123-5

  • Publisher: Springer Dordrecht

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

  • Copyright Information: PWN - Polish Scientific Publishers - Warszawa 1976

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-90-277-0550-1Published: 28 February 1977

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-94-010-1125-9Published: 11 November 2011

  • eBook ISBN: 978-94-010-1123-5Published: 06 December 2012

  • Series ISSN: 0166-6991

  • Series E-ISSN: 2542-8292

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: 700

  • Topics: Philosophy of Science, History, general

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