Description
Book SynopsisDue to the influence of postmodernism, historical anti-realism has come to exercise a massive influence in contemporary philosophy of history. Edited by Tor Egil Førland and Branko Mitrović, The Povery of Anti-realism: Critical Perspectives on Postmodernist Philosophy of History presents perspectives that oppose anti-realist understanding of historians' work. The first part of the book gives an overview of contemporary anti-realist philosophy of history and shows that its claims are either so wide-ranging that they apply to all scientific knowledge, or pertain only to a select part of historians’ work. In the second part, the authors criticize major anti-realist tenets. These include: the assertion that the colligatory concepts historians use are without reference in the past; the idea that historical facts are theory-dependent and therefore unable to upend prevailing theories; Paul Roth’s application of Nelson Goodman’s “irrealist” theory of worldmaking to suggest a plurality of pasts; and the belief that multiple describability prevents historians from providing true and testable accounts of the past. The third and final part shows that the political implications of anti-realism are often other than left-leaning anti-realists think. Their reactions when confronted with the consequences of their theories indicate the inconsistency and untenability of postmodernist philosophy of history.
Table of ContentsIntroduction: Being Realist about History by Tor Egil Førland and Branko Mitrović
Part I: Philosophical Contexts
Chapter 1: Idealism in Historical Theory 1970–2020 by Adam Timmins
Chapter 2: A Deceiving Resemblance: Realism Debates in Philosophy of Science and Philosophy of Historiography by Veli Virmajoki
Part II: Critiques
Chapter 3: Historical Accuracy and Historians’ Objectivity by Branko Mitrović
Chapter 4: Historiography beyond Partisanship: Establishing Facts and Evaluating Theories by Tor Egil Førland
Chapter 5: Irrealism and Historical Theory: A User’s Guide by Adam Timmins
Chapter 6: Saving Historical Reality (Even If We Construct It) by David Weberman
Part III: Political Implications
Chapter 7: Is Historical Antirealism (Ever) Politically Progressive? by Ian Verstegen
Chapter 8: Postmodern Frankenstein; or, the Alternative Facts Monster by Tor Egil Førland
Chapter 9: Arguments, Partisanship, and Politics: Is Anti-realism in the Philosophy of History a Right-Wing Ideology? by Branko Mitrović
