This introductory text is written for students faced with the question "what is history?' Polemical in tone, the book argues against a skills-based approach to history in favour of a methodological one. Drawing widely on developments in philosophy, literary theory, critical theory and politics, Keith Jenkins argues that history must abandon the search for objective truth about the past and come to terms with its own processes of production. Brief, provocative and well-argued, the book aims to develop in its readers an historicist, sceptical, critical intelligence that will open up a new understanding of what history is, and can be, in the post-modern world.

Rethinking History (Routledge Classics) (Volume 96)

History

Jenkins, Keith

Historical Study & Educational Resources

Routledge

On `What is History?' provides a student introduction to contemporary historiographical debates. Carr and Elton are still the starting point for the vast majority of introductory courses on the nature of history. Building on his highly successful Rethinking History, Keith Jenkins explores in greater detail the influence of these key figures. He argues that historians need to move beyond their `modernist' thinking and embrace the postmodern-type approaches of thinkers such as Richard Rorty and Hayden White. Through its radical critique of Carr and Elton and its championing of Rorty and White, On `What is History'? represents a significant development for introductory studies on the nature of history.

On 'What Is History?': From Carr and Elton to Rorty and White

Europe

Jenkins provides a student introduction to contemporary historiographical debates. Through its radical critique of Carr and Elton, he embraces the postmodern-type approaches of thinkers such as Richard Rorty and Hayden White.

On 'What Is History?': From Carr and Elton to Rorty and White (Historical Connections)

Why History?: Ethics and postmodernity

Why History is an introduction to the issue of history and ethics. Designed to provoke discussion, the book asks whether a good knowledge and understanding of the past is a good thing to have and if so, why. In the context of postmodern times, Why History suggests that the goal of 'learning lessons from the past' is actually learning lessons from stories written by historians and others. If the past as history has no foundation, can anything ethical be gained from history? Why History presents liberating challenges to history and ethics, proposing that we have reached an emancipatory moment which is well beyond the 'end of history'.

Why History?

Why History is an introduction to the issue of history and ethics. Designed to provoke discussion, the book asks whether a good knowledge and understanding of the past is a good thing to have and if so, why. In the context of postmodern times, Why History suggests that the goal of 'learning lessons from the past' is actually learning lessons from stories written by historians and others. If the past as history has no foundation, can anything ethical be gained from history?Why History presents liberating challenges to history and ethics, proposing that we have reached an emancipatory moment which is well beyond the 'end of history'.

Refiguring History

In this engaging sequel to Rethinking History, Keith Jenkins argues for a re-figuration of historical study. At the core of his survey lies the realization that objective and disinterested histories as well as historical 'truth' are unachievable. The past and questions about the nature of history remain interminably open to new and disobedient approaches.Jenkins reassesses conventional history in a bold fashion. His committed and radical study presents new ways of 'thinking history', a new methodology and philosophy and their impact on historical practice. This volume is written for students and teachers of history, illuminating and changing the core of their discipline.

Refiguring History: New Thoughts On an Old Discipline

In this engaging sequel to Rethinking History, Keith Jenkins argues for a re-figuration of historical study. At the core of his survey lies the realization that objective and disinterested histories as well as historical 'truth' are unachievable. The past and questions about the nature of history remain interminably open to new and disobedient approaches. Jenkins reassesses conventional history in a bold fashion. His committed and radical study presents new ways of 'thinking history', a new methodology and philosophy and their impact on historical practice. This volume is written for students and teachers of history, illuminating and changing the core of their discipline.

History means many things to many people. But finding an answer to the question 'What is history?' is a task few feel equipped to answer. If you want to explore this tantalising subject, where do you start? What are the critical skills you need to begin to make sense of the past? The perfect introduction to this thought-provoking area, Jenkins' clear and concise prose guides readers through the controversies and debates that surround historical thinking at the present time, providing them with the means to make their own discoveries.

Re-thinking History (Routledge Classics)

Americas

At the Limits of History: Essays on Theory and Practice

"Why bother with history? Keith Jenkins has an answer. He helps us re-think the "end of history", as signalled by postmodernity. Readers may disagree with him, but he never fails to provoke debate about the future of the past." Joanna Bourke, Professor of History, Birkbeck College Keith Jenkins’ work on historical theory is renowned; this collection presents the essential elements of his work over the last fifteen years.  Here we see Jenkins address the difficult and complex question of defining the limits of history. The collection draws together the key pieces of his work in one handy volume, encompassing the ever controversial issue of postmodernism and history, questions on the end of history and radical history into the future. Exchanges with Perez Zagorin and Michael Coleman further illuminate the level of debate that has surrounded postmodernism, and which continues to do so. An extended introduction and abstracts which contextualize each piece, together with a foreword by Hayden White and an afterword by Alun Munslow, make this collection essential reading for all those interested in the theory and practice of history and its development over the last few decades.

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Jenkins, Keith. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Jenkins, Keith

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Jenkins, Keith. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Rethinking History (Routledge Classics) (Volume 96)

On 'What Is History?': From Carr and Elton to Rorty and White

On 'What Is History?': From Carr and Elton to Rorty and White (Historical Connections)

Why History?

Why History?: Ethics and postmodernity

Refiguring History: New Thoughts On an Old Discipline

Refiguring History

Re-thinking History (Routledge Classics)

At the Limits of History: Essays on Theory and Practice

At the Limits of History: Essays on Theory and Practice