Philosophy Of History, The

Description:
This is the definitive companion to the study of the philosophy of history. It provides an accessible and comprehensive introduction to all the major philosophical concepts, issues and debates raised by history. Ideal for undergraduate students in philosophy and history, the structure and content closely reflect the way the philosophy of history is studied and taught.The book offers a lucid treatment of existing approaches to the philosophy of history and also breaks new ground by extending the major debates in this area of growing philosophical interest. Subjects examined include: the centrality of historical language; objections to historical truth and realism; the relationship between the philosophy of history and the philosophy of science; historical interpretation and narrative; philosophical accounts of historical reasoning from the evidence. The text clearly presents and criticises the arguments of the major philosophers and historians who have contributed to our understanding of the philosophy of history.Mark Day's rigorous analysis is supplemented by useful pedagogical features, including key examples from historical and philosophical writing; summaries of core debates; study questions; and guides to further reading.

Table of Contents:
Introduction; 1: The Uses of History; 2: Historian and Audience; 3: Why Can't History be Scientific?; 4: Past Thought, Action and Emotion; 5: Language, Truth and Poetry; 6: Stories Created, Stories Lived; 7: Micro, Macro and Meta; 8: Understanding or Alienation; 9: Historical Experience; 10: The Plurality of History; Annotated Bibliography.

Author Biography:
Mark Day has a PhD in the philosophy of history from the University of Sheffield, UK. He has taught philosophy at the Universities of Leeds and Nottingham, UK, and has published papers in the philosophies of history, science, and social science.