Hayden White, History as Narrative: A Constructive Approach to Historiography

Scholarly Essay from the year 2005 in the subject History - Basics, grade: very good, Graduate Institute of International Studies, Gene (Graduate Institute of International Studies, Gene), course: International History and Politics, 22 entries in the bibliography, language: English, abstract: In this essay we argue that the concept of history as narrative (Metahistory) defended by the American philosopher of history Hayden White represents a constructive approach to historiography. We consider briefly the origins and the content of White's theory, how White criticizes historians and how they criticize him. We conclude that, by denying universal truths, White's concept criticizes Western scientific and rationalistic - ethnocentric - worldviews, perceived as justifications for the use and abuse of power and authority.