Materialist Philosophy of History: A Realist Antidote to Postmodernism

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What does it mean for our understanding of history if we assume that everything is physical and that no immaterial entities, forces, or phenomena exist A Materialist Philosophy of History: : A Realist Antidote to Postmodernism examines the implications of a materialist worldview in contemporary philosophy of history. Materialism has wide-ranging consequences for historical research as well as for the credibility of various conceptions of the historical past. Branko Mitrovic shows how these implications pertain both to the nature of social institutions and the capacities of historical figures to decide, act, acquire beliefs, and communicate and to the methodology of historical research and problems, such as the interpretation and the translation of historical documents. A materialist view also entails rejecting the view that forces such as culture, language, or society can construct physical reality or that the historical past is constructed through the work of the historian. This book examines these consequences and presents a comprehensive materialist perspective on historical research and the understanding of the historical past.

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"A Materialist Philosophy of History is a truly intriguing piece of work. In a conscientious, thorough, and combative manner it grapples with the implications of a materialist worldview for the discipline of history. The arguments have the potential to move the debate within philosophy of history forward by pushing anti-foundationalism back. Adherents of the latter will want to take issue with the book, but the scholarship is much too solid, the breadth of knowledge too wide, and the arguments too convincing for its views to be brushed aside."--Tor Egil Frland, University of Oslo

Author Bio

Branko Mitrovic is professor at Norges Teknisk-Naturvitenskapelige Universitet, Trondheim, Norway.