Do Theorists of History Have a Theory of History? Reflections on a Non-Discipline

Dados Bibliográficos

ID3949762
AutoresZoltán B Simon (0000-0001-8763-7415, autor correspondente)
Ano2019
Volume12
Fascículo29
Data de publicação2019-04-28
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoHistória da Historiografia International Journal of Theory and History of Historiography (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 1983-9928 • E-ISSN: 1983-9928
EditoraSociedade Brasileria de Teoria e Historia de Historiografia (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.15848/hh.v12i29.1461
OpenAlexW2941164637
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas3
Referências citadas18

This brief article is a discussion-starter on the question of the role and use of theories and philosophies of history. In the last few decades, theories of history typically intended to transform the practice of historical studies through a straightforward application of their insights. Contrary to this, I argue that they either bring about particular historiographical innovations in terms of methodology but leave the entirety of historical studies intact or change the way we think about the entirety of historical studies merely by describing and explaining it in fresh and novel ways, without the need (and possibility) of application. In the former case, theories appear as internal to historical studies. In the latter case, they appear as theories abouthistory, and such theories are no longer limited to study history understood as historical writing. In reflecting on the historical condition of the ever-changing world, they foster a more fruitful cooperative relationship with the discipline of history. Discussing the scope and use of such theories of history is inevitable today when a younger generation sets out to theorize history against the backdrop of the experiential horizon of their own times

Archaeology · Comparative historical research · Epistemology · Experiential learning · Historical method · Historiography · History of ideas · Philosophy of history · Political history · Political science · Quantitative history · Social science · Sociology · Educator Training and Historical Pedagogy · History · Law · Philosophy · Philosophy, History, and Historiography · Rhetoric and Communication Studies