Which contemporary post-modernist philosopher has questioned the ‘epistemological value’ of history as a science ?

The correct answer is - Hayden White

Key Points

• Hayden White
  • Hayden White is a prominent post-modernist philosopher known for his critical views on the nature of history as a scientific discipline.
  • He challenges the idea that history can be considered an objective science, arguing that it is inherently narrative-driven and influenced by cultural and ideological factors.
  • White's work highlights the literary and rhetorical structures used in historical writing, emphasizing that history is a form of storytelling rather than purely factual reporting.
  • His influential book, "Metahistory: The Historical Imagination in Nineteenth-Century Europe", examines how historians construct narratives and how these narratives shape our understanding of the past.

Additional Information

• Post-modernism in History
  • Post-modernist thinkers, including Hayden White, argue that history is not an objective science but rather a cultural construct.
  • They emphasize the role of language, perspective, and power in shaping historical narratives.
  • Key post-modernist historians, besides White, include Alun Munslow and Keith Jenkins, who also critique traditional historical methods but focus on slightly different aspects.
• Key Works and Contributions
  • Alun Munslow: Advocates for the use of narrative and aesthetics in history, emphasizing the subjective nature of historical writing.
  • Homi Bhabha: Focuses on post-colonial theory, examining how history is shaped by colonial and cultural contexts.
  • Keith Jenkins: Argues that traditional history is a mythology created to serve specific power structures.
• Epistemological Value of History
  • Epistemology refers to the study of knowledge, its nature, and its validation.
  • Post-modernists question the epistemological value of history as a science, suggesting that it is influenced by subjective biases and cannot be entirely objective.
  • This debate is central to understanding the differences between traditional and post-modernist approaches to history.