The Logic of History

C. Behan McCullagh.0-203-62695-8, 0-203-63081-5

The Logic of History: Putting postmodernism in perspective reveals the rational basis for historians’ descriptions, interpretations and explanations of past events. C. Behan McCullagh defends the practice of history as more reliable than has recently been acknowledged. Historians, he argues, make their accounts of the past as fair as they can and avoid misleading their readers. He explains and discusses postmodern criticisms of history, providing students and teachers of history with a renewed validation of their practice. McCullagh takes the history debate to a new stage with bold replies to the major questions historians face today. Historical reasoning is explained in plain and simple terms, accessible to all with an interest in history.

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Table of contents :
Book Cover……Page 1
Title……Page 4
Contents……Page 5
Acknowledgements……Page 10
Introduction……Page 12
The possibility of historical knowledge……Page 16
The meanings of texts, actions and events……Page 29
Justifying descriptions of the past……Page 54
Causes of human actions……Page 81
Types of historical narrative……Page 127
Judging historical interpretations……Page 149
Causes and conditions in history……Page 163
Historical explanations……Page 181
Conclusion……Page 204
References……Page 206
Name index……Page 218
Subject index……Page 222