https://doi.org/10.47743/RRISXX.2024-2-1
Issue: 2/2024
Pages: 9-23
Language: English
Author: Paul E. Michelson
Abstract: Because the history of historiography is obviously too complex to be dealt with comprehensively, this paper is in the form of an essay. It discusses several aspects of the evolution of historiography in the 18th through the 20th centuries, organized around three principal questions concerning history/historiography posed by Karl R. Popper’s 1967 article “A Pluralist Approach to the Philosophy of History.” These questions are “What is the meaning of history?” “What is the use or value of history?” and “What is the method of history?” The work of Lord Acton plays a key role in responding to these questions which is elaborated here. The final part of the essay looks at the19th and 20th schism in historiography and its impact on the study of historical study.
Keywords: European historiography, Scientism, Positivism, Historicism, Historical
method