Here is the synopsis of our sample research paper on Historical Causation Does Not Necessarily Apply to Classical Historiography
. Have the paper e-mailed to you 24/7/365.
Essay / Research Paper Abstract
This 3 page paper evaluates the statement “It is a misnomer to say that a historical causation must apply to classical historiography” and argues that the statement is correct. Bibliography lists 4 sources.
Page Count:
3 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_HVHtgphy.rtf
Buy This Term Paper »
Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
begin by defining what is meant by "historical causation" and "classical historiography." Once we have the terms in mind we can evaluate their relationship to each other. "Historical causation" has
actually been a subject of philosophical debate for centuries. Patrick Gardner discusses what he calls "substantive theories of causation" since these theories are concerned "with determining the actual forces operative
in history and with trying to elicit the factors ultimately responsible for historical development and change" (Gardiner, 2003). This of course presupposes that we can actually isolate and identify those
factors, and that can prove difficult. This type of theory of causation is often associated with the works of classical historical philosophers; but they have also found their way into
the works of modern historians, "informing their methodology and influencing the manner in which they have approached the empirical data confronting them" (Gardiner, 2003). This type of theory asks questions
such as "What, if anything, underlies the course of history as a whole?" and "Can any one factor be picked out as being of preeminent importance?" (Gardiner, 2003). Is it
possible to form "causal laws" that will hold for all human experience? (Gardiner, 2003). Common sense would argue that it is unlikely that we will find one single causal factor
underlying all of history. Munro makes the same argument: while there are a great many theories about the causes of historical events, "the danger lies in espousing any one particular
type of cause to the exclusion of all others, for there can be few, if any, events of which it can truly be said that they had but on single
cause" (Munro). Among the factors that philosophers and historians have identified as causal are such things as the "Will of God; the cyclical nature of history ... Adam Smiths "invisible
...