Deconstructing HistoryIn Deconstructing History, Alun Munslow examines history in the postmodern age. He provides an introduction to the debates and issues of postmodernist history. He also surveys the latest research into the relationship between the past, history and historical practice as well as forwarding his own challenging theories. The book discusses issues of both empiricist and deconstruction positions and considers the arguments of major proponents of both stances, and includes:
Deconstructing History maps the philosophical field, outlines the controversies involved and assesses the merits of the deconstructionist position. He argues that instead of beginning with the past history begin with its representation by historians. |
Contents
1 Introduction | 1 |
2 The Past in a Changing Present | 19 |
3 History as ReconstructionConstruction | 39 |
4 History as Deconstruction | 61 |
5 What is Wrong with Deconstructionist History? | 82 |
6 What is Wrong with ReconstructionistConstructionist History? | 107 |
7 Michel Foucault and History | 129 |
8 Hayden White and Deconstructionist History | 149 |
9 Conclusion | 175 |
Glossary | 192 |
Guide to Further Reading | 207 |
Notes | 216 |
241 | |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
accept actually American analysis argued argument basic belief calls Cambridge claim consciousness constitute construction correspondence course create critical cultural deconstructionist deconstructive derived describes determined different discipline discourse effect Elton empirical empiricism empiricist emplotment episteme epistemological essential evidence example existence experience explanation facts first follows Foucault happened Hayden White historians historical explanation human idea ideological imagination important inference insists intentions interpretation issue kind knowledge language linguistic literary lives London mainstream Marxism meaning metaphor method narrative nature notion objective original past philosopher position possible postmodern practice present produced question realist reality reason reference rejects relationship remains represent representation result rhetorical Routledge says sense significance social social theory sources story structure suggests tell theory thought tion tropes truth turn ultimately understanding University Press White writing written York