WEEK ONE DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

WEEK ONE READINGS:

Look through the three readings. Ask one question of the reading. “What did the author mean by…” Or, “What are the implications of the idea on this page…” Or “huh, I just don’t get this part.”
Write your question into your notes.




Amazingly, your neighbor is an expert on that topic. She or he will help.

Novick
Page 2:
1. Interpret the line, “Historical facts are seen as
prior to and independent of interpretation.”
Interpret the line, “The value of an interpretation is judged by how well it accounts for the facts.”

2. Look at the line on page 2, where it says, “Objectivity is held to be at grave risk when history is written for utilitarian purposes.” Can you think of history being written for “utilitarian purposes?”

Pages 4-5
3. What does the term “myth” connote?

4. Interpret the line, “What was once functional in a myth may cease to be so in changed circumstances…Myths arise within the framework of surrounding cultural values, assumptions, and thoughtways; they flourish, more or less unaltered so long as these are stable.”

Page 7
5. Define “historicism.”

Page 8
6. Look at footnote number 6.

Overall
7. What’s the use of Novick for our purposes?

Marwick
1. “Practising historians are united neither in the acceptance of one body of theory, nor even in the view that theoretical approaches are helpful or desirable.” True, more so than biology, economics, anthropology or other “scientific” fields, areas that can at least espouse objectivity.

2. On page 143 is a good definition of the historiographical premise.
3. “Theory, boldly announced, is to be preferred to the unspoken, and often unrecognized assumptions which would otherwise be coulouring historical interpretation.” Stating your own bias is in fashion, but how easy is it to recognize your own bias? Write a brief statement explaining what your bias is?
4. On page 144, historians must define concepts that many take for granted: revolution, family, love, poverty, war, death. Why is it important to define terms? Do that now.

5. What is Marwick’s problem with Marxist ideology and historians?

6. What’s the use of Marwick for our purposes?

Foucault
1. How can the three elements of Foucault’s morals aid our historical vision?

2. How does Foucault define power?

3. Look at the response to the question regarding the “intrinsic” nature of repression in human relations.

4. Foucault says, “not enough attention has been given to that complex ensemble of connections.”
Explain.

5. What’s the use of Foucault for our purposes?

CONSIDER ALL THREE READINGS:
Re-assess your definition of “history.” How might you alter your conception of history based on our discussion?