Plausible Worlds: Possibility and Understanding in History and the Social Sciences - Couverture souple

Hawthorn, Geoffrey

 
9780521457767: Plausible Worlds: Possibility and Understanding in History and the Social Sciences
Couverture souple
ISBN 10 : 0521457769 ISBN 13 : 9780521457767
Editeur : Cambridge University Press, 1993

Synopsis

Possibilities haunt history. The force of our explanations of events turns on the alternative possibilities these explanations suggest. It is these possible worlds which give us our understanding; and in human affairs we decide them by practical rather than theoretical judgement. In his widely acclaimed account of the role of counterfactuals in explanation, Geoffrey Hawthorn deploys extended examples from history and modern times to defend his argument. His conclusions cast doubt on existing assumptions about the nature and place of theory, and indeed of the possibility of knowledge itself, in the human sciences.

Les informations fournies dans la section « Synopsis » peuvent faire référence à une autre édition de ce titre.

Présentation de l'éditeur

Possibilities haunt history. The force of our explanations of events turns on the alternative possibilities these explanations suggest. It is these possible worlds which give us our understanding; and in human affairs we decide them by practical rather than theoretical judgement. In his widely acclaimed account of the role of counterfactuals in explanation, Geoffrey Hawthorn deploys extended examples from history and modern times to defend his argument. His conclusions cast doubt on existing assumptions about the nature and place of theory, and indeed of the possibility of knowledge itself, in the human sciences.

Revue de presse

'Hawthorn's Plausible Worlds is not only a good read, filled with all sorts of fascinating information, but a book that raises very large and interesting questions about the nature of explanation in the human sciences. I found his answers to the questions persuasive.' Richard Rorty

'This volume is a marvelously stimulating and thought provoking work. It ought to be on the reading lists of advanced courses on both the theory and the methodology of history writing.' Allan Megill, The American Historical Review

Les informations fournies dans la section « A propos du livre » peuvent faire référence à une autre édition de ce titre.

Éditeur
Cambridge University Press
Date d'édition
1993
Langue
anglais
ISBN 10 
0521457769
ISBN 13 
9780521457767
Reliure
Broché
Nombre de pages
206
Coordonnées du fabricant
non disponible
Personne responsable
Avery
https://www.avery.fr/

chemin des peupliers 27
Dardilly
France

Autres éditions populaires du même titre

9780521403597: Plausible Worlds: Possibility and Understanding in History and the Social Sciences

Edition présentée

ISBN 10 :  0521403596 ISBN 13 :  9780521403597
Editeur : Cambridge University Press, 1991
Couverture rigide