Readings In
Phil. History
College Instructor:
Aimee M. Rollo, LPT
Chapter 1
Introduction to History:
Definition, Issues, Sources, and
Methodology
“A generation which
ignores History has no
past - and no future.“
Robert Heinlein
Definition & Suject Matter
(From Greek iotopia, historia, means “knowledge
acquired through inquiry or investigation”) is the
study of the past.
Any integrated narrative or description of
past events or facts written in a spirit of
critical inquiry (mapanuring pagtatanong)
for the whole truth” (Calderon & Gonzales
1993 citing Good and Scates, 1972).
A discipline that studies the chronological order of events
(as affecting a nation or people), based on critical
examination of source materials and usually presenting an
explanation of their causes. (Encyclopedia Brittanica)
It existed for around 2,400 years and is as old as
mathematics and philosophy.
Like any other academic disciplines, history
progressed and opened to the possibility of valid
historical sources, not limited to written documents
such as government records, chroniclers’ accounts,
or personal letters etc.
But traditional historians lived with the mantra of
“No Document, No History”
Other historians started using other kinds of
historical sources.
Any history that has been taught and written is
always intended for a certain group of audience.
Why Study History?
*To learn about our past.
*To understand the present.
*To appreciate our heritage in a broad perspective.
*To acquire a background for critical thinking.
Source: Dizon et. al (2011) citing Perry (1999)
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Quesions &
Issues in History
What is History? Why study History?
And History for whom?
Historiography vs. History
Definition: History of history Definition: Study of the past
Objective: The past, the past events,
Objective: History itself
and the causes of such events
Role/s: Have better Role/s: Unite a nation, make sense
understanding of history of the present, inspire people, etc.
Mehods/Theoy and Pespective
POSITIVISM
-school of thought that emerged between the 18th
and 19th century.
-requires empirical and observable evidence
before one claim that a particular knowledge is true
-entails an objective means of arriving at a
conclusion
Sample of Questions:
What primary sources can be used to
established factual evidence?
How can quantitative data be utilized to
support historical claims?
To what extent can the historical narrative be
constructed solely based on verifiable facts
and documents?
POSTCOLONIALISM
-school of thought that emerged in the early 20th
century.
-look at these 2 things in writing history: 1) tell the
history of the nation that will highlight their identtiy
free from that of colonial discourse and knowledge,
2) criticize the methods, effects, and the idea of
colonialism
Sample of Questions:
How did colonial powers exercise control over
colonized peoples, including through violence,
coercion, and manipulation?
What were the economic, social, and cultural
impacts of colonialism on colonized societies,
including exploitation of recources, labor, and
cultures?
ANNALES SCHOOL OF HISTORY
-school of history born in France that challenged
the cannons of history.
-Annales scholars were concerned with social
history and studied longer historical periods.
They married history with other disciplines like
geography, archaeology, anthropology, and
linguistics.
Sample of Questions:
What are the underlying structures that shape
historical events and phenomena, such as
social, economic, and cultural systems?
What are the long-term trends and cycles that
shape historical events and phenomena, such
as demographic, economic, and
environmental trends?
Is History written by victors? Is the
narrative of the past written with biases?
Is it possible to come with an absolute
historical truth? Is History an objective
discipline? If it is not, is it still worthwhile
to study History?
History and the
Historian
Who is a Historian?
-Someone who writes about or studies
history. (Cambridge Dictionary)
-A person of his own who is influenced
by his own context, environment,
ideology, education, and influences,
among others.
-His interpretation of the historical
fact is affected by his context and
circumstances.
-His subjectivity will inevitably
influence the process of his historical
research
What about History?
The study of history remains scientific because of the
rigor of research and methodology that historians
employ.
Historical Methodology. comprises certain techniques
and rules that historians follow in order to properly
utilize sources and historical evidences in writing
history.
Historical Sources
Primary Sources Secondary Sources
Original Materials Interpretive Materials
Direct Evidence Indirect Evidence
Created at the time Created later
Uninterpreted Interpreted
Historical Criticism
Internal Criticism
Examination of the truthfulness and factuality of
the evidence.
It looks at the content of the source and the
circumstance of its production.
Author of the source, Context, Agenda behind its
creation, knowledge which informed it, and its
intended purpose
External Criticism
The practice of verifying the authenticity of
evidence.
Physical Characteristics, Consistency with the
historical characteristic of the time when it was
produced, the materials used for the evidence.
Quality of the paper, the type of ink, and the language
and words used in the material
Why we conduct Historical
Research?
*To avoid mistakes of the past.
*To apply lessons from the past to current problems
*To use the past to make predictions about the present
and future
*To understand the present practices and policies in the
light of the past.
*To examine trends across time.
Educational Research Basics by Del Siegle
Thank You!
God Bless!