Historicity

The paradox of contemporary historical scholarship is that past authors of history existed apart from their milieu, whereas present authors sit astride theirs. Contemporary historians do not contribute directly to the source record, but present it and determine what can be reconstructed or generalized. In this it is vital to understand why the source record exists as it does. Historicity is more than the mere truth value of a source: It is the source in situ, the description of which is a worthy aspiration. It is also appropriate to consider the place of the contemporary historical paradigm in the formation of future ideas of history, since that task is not only possible but potentially significant.

No. 1 – Comparative Accuracy by Donald C. Jackman – viii, 107 pp. – $12.00

Comparative accuracy is a system of argumentation sharing much in common with Activity Theory. A crucial difference is that comparative accuracy is applied to situations having a plus/minus or 0/1 outcome. Applications are possible in areas where it is important to be informed of the reliability of a particular conclusion in deciding a course of action. This paper provides a neutral description suitable for transfer to other fields.

Comparative accuracy was developed for handling complex inference in genealogical reconstruction of the aristocracy of the central middle ages. Specific themes discussed include: fraudulent scholarship; historicity as the motivations of authors; a well-documented marriage between second cousins existing unchallenged around 1050; King Robert I of France reliably inferred as son of Adelaide of Tours; terminological extension of ‘filius’ to grandson; the narrative and the historical method of S. V. Utechin; evidence supporting the Byzantine maternal background of Iaroslav the Wise.

No. 2 – Testing the Waters: from “The Circuit” weblog by Donald C. Jackman – vi, 37 pp. – request copy by email

A contribution to the philosophy of history representing collected weblog entries from early 2009. The theme is the theoretical impact of data accumulation and information technology on the study of history, as well as the means by which it is possible to separate historical information from non-historical information in looking towards theoretical and applied systems of data storage and retrieval.

In addition to the fourteen blog entries there is an Epilogue as well as retrospective commentary on selected keywords. Some of these keywords are: antithesis, characterization, comprehension gap, controversy, engagement, fringe opinion, future context, generalization, imperialism, journalism, mass culture, paradox, politicization, popular fallacy, practical effects, predictability, revisionism, teleological blueprint, vainglory.

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