The Logic of the History of Ideas

by Mark Bevir

This book provides a philosophical analysis of the reasoning appropriate to the history of ideas. It addresses three main what sort of meanings do historians study? How can historians justify claims to have objective knowledge of such meanings? What sorts of explanations are appropriate to such meanings? By answering these questions Mark Bevir seeks to clarify the nature of the history of ideas so as to guide historians in their practice, and to illuminate the process by which human thought develops.

Genres: History, Philosophy, Politics

352 pages, Paperback

First published May 19, 1995

About the author

Professor Mark Bevir is a member of the Department of Political Science at University of California, Berkeley. He was born in London and educated at the University of Exeter, U.K., where he got a BA (1st Class), and the University of Oxford, UK where he was awarded a DPhil. Before moving to Berkeley, he worked at the University of Madras, India, and University of Newcastle, UK. He has held visiting positions in Australia, Finland, France, U.K., and the U.S. Currently he is co-convener of the Interpretive Political Science specialist group of the Political Studies Association and President of the Society for the Philosophy of History.