New Contributions to the Philosophy of History

This book combines insights developed by philosophers of the social sciences with the writings of historians to offer a unique perspective touching on a wide range of topics, from the French and Chinese revolutions to agriculture and the industrial age.

Insights developed in the past two decades by philosophers of the social sciences can serve to enrich the challenging intellectual tasks of conceptualizing, investigating, and representing the human past. Likewise, intimate engagement with the writings of historians can deepen philosophers' understanding of the task of knowing the past. This volume brings these perspectives together and considers fundamental questions, such as: What is historical causation? What is a large historical structure? How can we best conceptualize mentalities and identities? What is involved in understanding the subjectivity of historical actors? What is involved in arriving at an economic history of a large region? How are actions and outcomes related? The arguments touch upon a wide range of historical topics -- the Chinese and French Revolutions, the extension of railroads in the nineteenth century, and the development of agriculture in medieval China.

Applies the perspective of philosophy of the special sciences to problems in historical research Examines the thinking and reasoning of some of today's most talented and innovative historians Contains a wealth of interesting examples of historical explanation

Contenu
Introduction: History's Pathways.- History and Narrative.- Historical Concepts and Social Ontology.- Large Structures.- Causal Mechanisms.- History of Technology.- Economic History.- The Involution Debate.- Mentalités.