Changes in the Academic Conversation: Trevelyan's 3 Functions of History
One: The Scientific
This aspect deals with the collecting and weighing of facts. We are talking about what happened in an individual manner. This is the necessary function of History. Without this we are shooting in the dark. Though the historian chooses the facts, interprets the stories, and comes to a conclusion based on comparative and regressive methods, one can be assured, to a high degree, that these chosen facts and events are valid.
Two: The Speculative
It is impossible not to separate things when discussing matters of the world and material universe. In doing so we create a cosmos that is intelligible to us. History is no different. Upon creating the framework of a history one differentiates and classifies certain aspects of the world (i.e. classes, nations, time periods, revolutions, political movements, land masses, elements, etc). These constructs help us navigate and come to a greater understanding of the world around us. Just as words help us explain the greater truth around us, so does interpretations and generalizations of the greater truth of our past.
Three: The Literary
This last function can be affirmed by any student in a class, or reader of a book of History. In fact those who are reading this blog can either affirm or deny my own ability to convey both fact and imagination into words. By doing this well, the historian and lecturer can attract others to their subject. Even the truth can be made boring by someone ill equipped with the necessary social ability to communicate their ideas effectively.
Synthesis
When all three of these conditions are met one can be assured that the work is both useful and artistic in nature and of the up most quality. This is what all historians and teachers of History should strive for in their work.
This aspect deals with the collecting and weighing of facts. We are talking about what happened in an individual manner. This is the necessary function of History. Without this we are shooting in the dark. Though the historian chooses the facts, interprets the stories, and comes to a conclusion based on comparative and regressive methods, one can be assured, to a high degree, that these chosen facts and events are valid.
Two: The Speculative
It is impossible not to separate things when discussing matters of the world and material universe. In doing so we create a cosmos that is intelligible to us. History is no different. Upon creating the framework of a history one differentiates and classifies certain aspects of the world (i.e. classes, nations, time periods, revolutions, political movements, land masses, elements, etc). These constructs help us navigate and come to a greater understanding of the world around us. Just as words help us explain the greater truth around us, so does interpretations and generalizations of the greater truth of our past.
Three: The Literary
This last function can be affirmed by any student in a class, or reader of a book of History. In fact those who are reading this blog can either affirm or deny my own ability to convey both fact and imagination into words. By doing this well, the historian and lecturer can attract others to their subject. Even the truth can be made boring by someone ill equipped with the necessary social ability to communicate their ideas effectively.
Synthesis
When all three of these conditions are met one can be assured that the work is both useful and artistic in nature and of the up most quality. This is what all historians and teachers of History should strive for in their work.
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