A historian is trained to be a skeptic in the sense that he does not presume that what other historians have written is necessarily true. He needs to ferret out biases and mere opinion. The historian searches for what really happened. What works for one discipline does not necessarily work for another. Read the rest of this entry »
Posts Tagged ‘Historiography’
Compatiblility of Skepticism and Faith
In 13 History on 2011/05/07 at 8:31 AMProper Historical Perspective for Understanding Spanish Conquest of New World
In 13 History on 2011/03/31 at 12:46 PMCrimes are not to be measured by the issue of events” says Cicero, “but from the bad intentions of men.” Superficial, biased statements are common decrying colonization in America by Spaniards. To understand it you will have to read original sources and endeavor to re-visit the historical scene by re-examining Spanish writings, searching in them for the motivations which impelled the Spaniards and established them in certain relationships with the Indians. With the pen as the tongue of the mind, the writings should mirror the self-image or images, real and distorted, of the Spaniards in their contacts with the Indians. Read the rest of this entry »