Is objectivity possible for anyone writing as a historian?

Question

:)

Answer 1

One author can not write objectively and leave all of his prejudices out of his material. Taking that into consideration, it is necessary for the student of history to read as many views as he can in order to gain a well rounded view.

History is nothing more than the study of cause and effect. The welling meaning student wanting to study a particular period has to look at what brought what he wants to study about and what effect it had on the world.

Answer 2

Complete objectivity is near impossible, although historians who persue the Rankian form would argue otherwise. Although it is important to respect the autonomy of the past, just spitting out the facts is not adequate enough, interpretation is necessary. With interpretation, whether it be from a gender perspective, political, economic or post-modernist just to name a few, some objectivity will be lost in the process.

Answer 3

In the words of Napoleon Bonaparte,
" To write History one must be more than a man since the author who holds the pen of this great jucticiary should be free from all pre-occupation of interest, or of vanity."

I could not say it better. The ability to relay not only both perspectives with objectivity but also dictate the facts without implying anything bias from them may be the most difficult of tasks. It may not take more than a man, but it certainly requires many sometimes contradictory qualities in the same person.

Answer 4

scholars all claim to be objective, but as humans with emotions and unique minds, its very difficult, we always try to prove what we believe happened. how many history books published in britain or american take some of the blame for WW2 or sympathise with the germans? how many americans want to believe that 9/11 might have been 1 big consperacy?

the only way to try and get around this is try to prove the opposing view as much as you try to prove yours. also try to be as least emotional as you can. history is one huge doorway that leads you into an even bigger world that the one we live in.

goodluck

Answer 5

I found out as an author, there will always be speculation and controversy in history. It doesn't matter what you write about, your going to have negative issues from people that think your wrong, ever if you have the facts, you'll be judged wrong.

Answer 6

It should be, you would just be restating the facts.