Truth and Ritual Judgment: On Narrative Sense in China'S Earliest Historiography
David Schaberg
32Historically Speaking · March 2004 happened to modernization had Europe state structures like those ofChina in the early modern period. Still, here too, onus lies on historian showhowEuropean helped and Chinese hindered it, this process speculating what might have things been other way round does not reallyseem help much. Finally, much of he writes, Lebow, Black considers counterfactual speculation more as a factor influencingpolicydecisions than factorin enabling historical understanding, which is all well good, but lot do with questions under discussion here. since I don't know Robert Cowleyat all, obviouslyowe him an apologyfor lumping New Right ofhistory, ifhe notwant be lumped way. However, his repeated complaints about "the currently fashionable tyranny ofrace, gender , ethnicity" would seem place somewhere ifI anything at American political scene. As far I'm concerned, race, gender, ethnicity history, better. Where can agree when declares that"a rigorous examination has ofmaking stakes confrontation or decision stand out relief." The keyword "rigorous," once we're back principle minimal rewrite," Philip Tetlock puts we surely concur. But its uses remain my view strictly limited . So ifPickett charged Battle ofGettysburg, Chamberlain lost Little Round Top? Surely there were larger determining factors thatweighed decisivelyin scales ofvictory defeatin Civil War? It's fun thinkwhat Hitler attacked Soviet Union 1941, real challenge explaining why did. Cowley graciously concedes charges that currentlypracticed, history works best military focuses too heavily individuals agrees withoutwishful thinking. Mypoint, however, encourages these things— narrowly traditional degree ofwishful thinking distorting, say least. numerous examples cited present show, it need notbe thatway. Counterfactual historyisjust tool ofhistorical analysis, says, used caution. It applied very specific, carefully delimited contexts ifit aware limitations, are extremelysevere. hard enough finding whatwas, let alone reaching anykind oftenable conclusions wasn't. ifcounterfactual didn't exist, then world debate surelybe poorer place. In concluding contribution, lets slip fact edited three volumes What If? ignorance, thought onlytwo. offto buy third one right away. Truth Ritual Judgment: On Narrative Sense China's Earliest Historiography David Schaberg For historians ofearly China, coincidental agreement between Western taxonomies ofknowledge supported, through most ofthe 20th century, rather blinkered oldest source texts. Under late imperial predominant fourfold classification system, texts beenpegged Histories or, some cases, Classics, thereby separated from Literature Philosophy. Scholars could did admire their literary characteristics, latter ultimatelyto considered superfluous comparison truths conveyed. Meanwhile, scientific practiced by Westerninspired scholars tended bracket observations form style texts, focusing instead content value ofthese for discerninghistorical facts. situation familiar one: ofaffairs Hayden White addressed books worked change. number ofreasons, older view—that analysis mayyield appreciations butwill contribute significantly better critical understanding past—has especially tenacious China field. source...
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