Darwin-L Message Log 8:77 (April 1994)

Academic Discussion on the History and Theory of the Historical Sciences

This is one message from the Archives of Darwin-L (1993–1997), a professional discussion group on the history and theory of the historical sciences.

Note: Additional publications on evolution and the historical sciences by the Darwin-L list owner are available on SSRN.

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<8:77>From DARWIN@iris.uncg.edu  Fri Apr 22 19:53:52 1994

Date: Fri, 22 Apr 1994 20:53:45 -0500 (EST)
From: DARWIN@iris.uncg.edu
Subject: _Dictionary of Concepts in History_
To: darwin-l@ukanaix.cc.ukans.edu
Organization: University of NC at Greensboro

I just discovered this wonderful book by chance in the library; it
should be a required reference for all Darwin-L members:

  Ritter, Harry.  1986.  _Dictionary of Concepts in History_.  New York:
  Greenwood Press.  ("Reference Sources for the Social Sciences and
  Humanities, No. 3"; ISBN 0-313-22700-4)

It is almost 500 pages long, with short articles (most of them 2-10
pages) on a great range of historical concepts, such as anachronism,
antiquarianism, causation, colligation, covering law, decline,
determinism, event, explanation, fact, historiography, intellectual
history, interdisciplinary history, interpretation, laws, method,
narrative, objectivity, past, periodization, philosophy of history,
process, progress, relativism, revolution, skepticism, understanding,
universal history, and many others.  Some articles relate to concepts
in civil history (nationalism, for example) rather than the historical
sciences generally, but a great many of the articles would be of
interest to anyone concerned with the disciplines discussed on Darwin-L.
Each entry has a bibliography that can point the reader to other
literature on the historical concept in question.

The price is a bit high (US$75.00), but worth it, I think, for any
serious student of the historical sciences.

Bob O'Hara, Darwin-L list owner

Robert J. O'Hara (darwin@iris.uncg.edu)
Center for Critical Inquiry and Department of Biology
100 Foust Building, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Greensboro, North Carolina 27412 U.S.A.

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