Objectivity Is Not Neutrality: Explanatory Schemes in History

by Thomas L. Haskell

In Objectivity Is Not Neutrality, Thomas L. Haskell argues for a moderate historicism that acknowledges the force of perspective and reaffirms the pluralistic practices of a liberal democratic society—even while upholding time-honored distinctions between fact and fiction, scholarship and propaganda, right and might. Haskell addresses questions that will interest philosophers and literary theorists no less than historians, exploring topics ranging from the productivity of slave labor to the cultural concomitants of capitalism, from John Stuart Mill's youthful "mental crisis" to the cognitive preconditions that set the stage for antislavery and other humanitarian reforms after 1750. He traces the surprisingly short history of the word responsibility, which turns out to be no older than the United States. He examines the reasons for the rising authority of professional experts in nineteenth-century America. And he wonders whether the epistemological radicalism of recent years leaves us with any adequate basis for justifying human rights—rights of academic freedom, for example, or the right not to be tortured.

Written by a thoughtful critic of the historical profession, Objectivity Is Not Neutrality calls upon historians to think deeply about the nature of historical explanation and to acknowledge more fully than ever before the theoretical dimension of their work.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Academic

440 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[David R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can we justify our deeply held moral beliefs as valid in a deterministic, post-modern world? Haskell the historian here wrestles honestly with his own commitment to progressive values and his knowledge as an historian that such values are the product of historical conditioning. And he does it in clear prose that we ordinary readers can comprehend, not post-modern mishmash.

[Gv · Rating 3 out of 5]

I only read the introduction and the sixth chapter, but from those, I could get enlightening ideas, and a redefinition of the concept of objectivity, reading as an answer both to those left hopeless by the "linguistic turn" and to those who claim that objectivity is the paramount of history. I wish I could read the rest of it.

[Ronando: I Stand With Palestinians]

Amazon's description
"In Objectivity Is Not Neutrality, Thomas L. Haskell argues for a moderate historicism that acknowledges the force of perspective and reaffirms the pluralistic practices of a liberal democratic society—even while upholding time-honored distinctions between fact and fiction, scholarship and propaganda, right and might. Haskell addresses questions that will interest philosophers and literary theorists no less than historians, exploring topics ranging from the productivity of slave labor to the cultural concomitants of capitalism, from John Stuart Mill's youthful "mental crisis" to the cognitive preconditions that set the stage for antislavery and other humanitarian reforms after 1750. He traces the surprisingly short history of the word responsibility, which turns out to be no older than the United States. He examines the reasons for the rising authority of professional experts in nineteenth-century America. And he wonders whether the epistemological radicalism of recent years leaves us with any adequate basis for justifying human rights—rights of academic freedom, for example, or the right not to be tortured.

Written by a thoughtful critic of the historical profession, Objectivity Is Not Neutrality calls upon historians to think deeply about the nature of historical explanation and to acknowledge more fully than ever before the theoretical dimension of their work."

Amazon Reader's Review
"Anything written by Rice University History Professor Thomas Haskell is worth reading. As with some of the best intellectual history, these collected essays by Haskell are best digested slowly, but will pay huge dividends when one realizes the breadth and depth displayed by Haskell. Even though some essays have been previously published, Haskell offers illuminating insights as to the formation of the rationale behind his movitations for writing the essays, including the specific historical context. It is appropriate that a scholar who advances a middle ground between radical historicism and intuitive rationalism should examine his own justifications/explanations for why these writings happened to come about. American history has greatly benefited from Haskell's desire to probe disciplines that are not always welcome to historians---mainly because historians can locate "soft spots" that might have otherwise remained out of sight to its native practitioners.

If you purchase this collection, you'll find yourself jotting notes and making highlights extensively; a sure sign of a worthwhile investment."