ABSTRACT

The Logic of History 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.

chapter |4 pages

Introduction

chapter 1|13 pages

The possibility of historical knowledge

chapter 2|25 pages

The meanings of texts, actions and events

chapter 3|27 pages

Justifying descriptions of the past

chapter 4|46 pages

Causes of human actions

chapter 5|22 pages

Types of historical narrative

chapter 6|14 pages

Judging historical interpretations

chapter 7|18 pages

Causes and conditions in history

chapter 8|23 pages

Historical explanations