The Poverty of Anti-realism: Critical Perspectives on Postmodernist Philosophy of History

Tor Egil Førland (Curatore)

Branko Mitrovic´ (Curatore)

Lexington Books, 2023

Due to the influence of postmodernism, historical anti-realism has come to exercise a massive influence in contemporary philosophy of history. Edited by Tor Egil Førland and Branko Mitrovic, The Povery of Anti-realism: Critical Perspectives on Postmodernist Philosophy of History presents perspectives that oppose anti-realist understanding of historians' work. The first part of the book gives an overview of contemporary anti-realist philosophy of history and shows that its claims are either so wide-ranging that they apply to all scientific knowledge, or pertain only to a select part of historians’ work. In the second part, the authors criticize major anti-realist tenets. These include: the assertion that the colligatory concepts historians use are without reference in the past; the idea that historical facts are theory-dependent and therefore unable to upend prevailing theories; Paul Roth’s application of Nelson Goodman’s “irrealist” theory of worldmaking to suggest a plurality of pasts; and the belief that multiple describability prevents historians from providing true and testable accounts of the past. The third and final part shows that the political implications of anti-realism are often other than left-leaning anti-realists think. Their reactions when confronted with the consequences of their theories indicate the inconsistency and untenability of postmodernist philosophy of history.

• Curatore: Tor Egil Førland, Branko Mitrovic´
• Editore: Lexington Books
• Anno: 2023
• Rilegatura: Hardback
• Pagine: 246 p.
• Dimensioni: 239 x 159 mm
• Peso: 522 gr.
• EAN: 9781666933628

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