On the Historical Explanation

Subject Areas : The Journal of Islamic History and Civilisation

مجید اکبری ¹ (ندارد)

Received: 2007-08-14 Accepted : 2007-09-19 Published : 2007-08-23

Keywords: philosophy of history, Explanation, historical explanation, explanation model, understanding, objectivity,

Abstract :

An explanation is an answer to why-question as a description is an answer tohow-question. In the beginning of 20 century, a few philosophers of science,and philosophers of history too, believed that all scientists (and historians)must similarly explain the phenomena and (historical) events. D-N Modeland I-S Model have been introduced by philosophers and scientists duringthe four decade discussions. Moreover, the positivistic approach maintainsthat the explanations preserve the objectivity. Some philosophers, incontrast, argue that the early definition of objectivity isn't exact and rigorous.It is, here, claimed that Popper's view in which the objectivity is not a singlescientist's work but the critical debates and cooperative competitions amongthe scientists and philosophers, is the best proposal.