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Problem of Historical Knowledge: An Answer Ot Relativism
Book by Mandelba, Maurice H.
340 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1971
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August 8, 2024
MANDELBAUM'S CRITIQUE OF SCEPTICISM ABOUT HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE
Maurice Mandelbaum (1908-1987) was an American philosopher, who was professor of philosophy at Johns Hopkins University. He also wrote 'The Anatomy of Historical Knowledge.'
He wrote in the Preface to this 1938 book, "The present work seeks to serve a dual purpose. Its primary aim lies in the attempt to overcome the widely current scepticism with which historical knowledge is regarded. Its secondary aim is to serve as a critical summary of several important views concerning this problem." (Pg. x)
He states, "in regard to the unverifiability of historical statements something further needs to be said. In the first place, verifiability is not the essential factor in the discovery of the truth... Further, the act of verification is but one step in the validation of knowledge, and it has no meaning unless an accurate observant insight has already given it clues on which to work." (Pg. 187)
He summarizes, "In order to overcome historical relativism and to substitute for it an alternative theory it was necessary to show first, that historical statements could not be understood or evaluated merely in terms of their origin, and, second, that the arrangement and order of these statements was dependent upon the historical material and not upon the historian's personal or social standpoint." (Pg. 243) Later, he adds, "our consideration of historical knowledge has been directed toward showing that the ideal of historical objectivity is not an illusory one." (Pg. 273)
He argues, "We have cited many reasons why history must often be rewritten, yet none of these reasons demands that we give up the idea of objective historical knowledge." (Pg. 304)
Mandelbaum's books will be of keen interest to students of historiography, as well as of the philosophy of history.
Maurice Mandelbaum (1908-1987) was an American philosopher, who was professor of philosophy at Johns Hopkins University. He also wrote 'The Anatomy of Historical Knowledge.'
He wrote in the Preface to this 1938 book, "The present work seeks to serve a dual purpose. Its primary aim lies in the attempt to overcome the widely current scepticism with which historical knowledge is regarded. Its secondary aim is to serve as a critical summary of several important views concerning this problem." (Pg. x)
He states, "in regard to the unverifiability of historical statements something further needs to be said. In the first place, verifiability is not the essential factor in the discovery of the truth... Further, the act of verification is but one step in the validation of knowledge, and it has no meaning unless an accurate observant insight has already given it clues on which to work." (Pg. 187)
He summarizes, "In order to overcome historical relativism and to substitute for it an alternative theory it was necessary to show first, that historical statements could not be understood or evaluated merely in terms of their origin, and, second, that the arrangement and order of these statements was dependent upon the historical material and not upon the historian's personal or social standpoint." (Pg. 243) Later, he adds, "our consideration of historical knowledge has been directed toward showing that the ideal of historical objectivity is not an illusory one." (Pg. 273)
He argues, "We have cited many reasons why history must often be rewritten, yet none of these reasons demands that we give up the idea of objective historical knowledge." (Pg. 304)
Mandelbaum's books will be of keen interest to students of historiography, as well as of the philosophy of history.
Displaying 1 of 1 review