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The Meaning of History: Historical Method

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THE MEANING OF HISTORY

The English word history is derived from the Greek word “istoia” meaning learning
According to Aristotle, history is the systematic account of a set of natural
phenomena whether or not chronological ordering was a factor in an account, and this
is considered as natural history. As time passed, the equivalent Latin
word “scientia”, which is science in English later was used more to designate non-
chronological systematic accounts of phenomena.
Presently, the word “history” means the “past of mankind”. History is the study of
past events, particularly in human affairs.
History in German is “Geschichte”, meaning, “that which has happened”. This means
that the word implies that history teaches and we may learn from the lessons of
history.
With the definition of history, it brings man to a recognition that history cannot be
reconstructed, that the past of mankind, much of it, is beyond recall. And that even
the best of our memories cannot re-create our past.
The reconstruction of the total past of mankind is the total goal of historians which,
however, is unattainable. Historians will never really know everything that happened
in the past.
The problem that every historian confronts is that the evidence they rely on is likely
to be fragmented, incomplete and even contradictory. The result is, each historian’s
conclusions are influenced by the evidence they have selected from what is available
and from how they interpreted it.
And from whatever a historian only has will be the only thing that he can use to
connect him to the past.

HISTORICAL METHOD

The process of critically examining and analyzing the records and survivals of the
past.
To study objectively (intention of acquiring detached and truthful knowledge
independent of one’s personal reactions) a thing must first be an object and must
have an independent resistance outside the human mind). Most of history is based
on the human mind since most of history is based upon recollection (written or spoken
history).
In reconstruction, only a part of what was observed is remembered, only a part of
what was remembered is recorded, only a part of what was recorded survives, only
a part of what survived comes to the historian’s attention.
Only of a part of what is credible has been grasped, only a part of what has been
grasped can be expounded and narrated by the historian.

HISTORICAL SOURCES
- Objects from the past or testimony concerning the past which historians use
to create their own depiction of the past.

1. According to Form
*Written Sources
- Published materials (books, journals etc.) and manuscript (handwritten and
unprinted like archival materials and memoirs)
*Non written Sources
-Oral history, artifacts, fossils, etc.

2. According to Origin
*Primary Sources
- Testimony of an eyewitness
- It must have been produced by a contemporary of that is narrated. It is a
document or physical object written or created during the time under study. These
sources were present during an experience or time period and offer an inside view
of a particular event.
*Secondary Sources
- Interpret and analyze primary sources
- They are one or more steps removed from the event. Examples are printed
textbooks.

HISTORICAL CRITICISM
-Settles matters on the form and content of a source

*External Criticism- Deals with the problem of authenticity


- To spot hoaxes, fakes, forgeries and fabrications.
Tests of Authenticity are:
• Determine the date if it is Anachronistic: a material, skill or culture does not
exist at that time
• Determine the author in the uniqueness of his handwriting or signature
• Determine the provenance or custody: genuineness
• Determine the Semantics, meaning of a text or word
• Determine the Hermeneutics, the ambiguities
*Internal Criticism - Deals with the problem of credibility.

Tests of credibility are:


• Determine the Character of the Author, his reliability, and his ability and
willingness to tell the truth

• Determine the Corroboration, historical facts rest upon the testimony of two
or more reliable witnesses

KINDS OF PRIMARY SOURCES


1. Records of social and cultural observations
2. Chronicles
3. Human Fossils (remains of ancient man imbedded in the earth such as bones,
hair, skin etc.)
4. Artifacts ( cultural evidences of man in the past such as tools and implements)
5. Records of Detective Investigations
6. Royal Decrees and Laws
7. Official Reports
8. Maps
9. Memoirs or Autobiographies
10. Personal accounts: record of interviews
11. Newspapers and Magazines: reports of correspondents
12. Legislative journals
13. Court Record
REPOSITORIES OF PRIMARY SOURCES
1. National Archives of the Philippines
2. National Library of the Philippine
3. National Historical Commission of the Philippines
4. National Museum of the Philippines
5. Other Repositories of Primary Sources are the libraries of various
universities in the Philippines such as the University of the Philippines, the
Ateneo de Manila Rizal Library and Museum, the American Historical
Collection in ADMU, and the University of Sto. Tomas Central Library and
Museum.

HISTORICAL CRITICISM

- Settles matters on the form and content of a source


*External Criticism

- Deals with the problem of authenticity


- To spot hoaxes, fakes, forgeries and fabrications
- Tests of Authenticity are
1. determine the date if it is Anachronistic: a material, skill or culture does not
exist at that time
2. Determine the author in the uniqueness of his handwriting or signature
3. Determine the provenance or custody: genuineness
4. Determine the Semantics, meaning of a text or word
5. Determine the Hermeneutics, the ambiguities

*Internal Criticism

- Deals with the problem of credibility.


- Tests of credibility are
1. Determine the Character of the Author, his reliability, and his ability and
willingness to tell the trut
2. Determine the Corroboration, historical facts rest upon the testimony of two
or more reliable witnesses

KINDS OF PRIMARY SOURCES

- Records of social and cultural observations


- Chronicles
- Human Fossils (remains of ancient man imbedded in the earth such as
bones, hair, skin etc.)
- Artifacts ( cultural evidences of man in the past such as tools and
implements)
- Records of Detective Investigations
- Royal Decrees and Laws
- Official Reports
- Maps
- Memoirs or Autobiographies
- Personal accounts: record of interviews
- Newspapers and Magazines: reports of correspondents
- Legislative journals
- Court Records

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