Assess The Quote “A Historian Must Combine The Rigour Of The Scientist With The Imagination Of The Artist.”
Submitted by aaron430 on January 6, 2008
Category: Philosophy
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To what extent, then, can the historian be confident about his or her conclusions? The writing of history is not undertaken for its own sake, that is without the prospect of at least one reader. Therefore the writing must be readable. This consideration is, however, at all times subordinate to that of addressing a historical problem; of framing and answering meaningful questions about the past. The extent to which the historian can be confident about his or her conclusions will depend on his or her ability to match these requirements.
If the historian applies the rigour of the scientist to his research, there is absolutely no reason why he or she should not be confident about his or her conclusions. Historians are trained in their craft.
They “have reliable and agreed procedures for answering questions about what in particular occurred”. (Walsh, 1967, p. 171)...