A Philosophy of the Humanities

Abstract

Abstract This groundbreaking book opens up new vistas on the study of the humanities. Coauthored by three philosophers, it offers an in-depth exploration of a range of questions. For example, what, if anything, unifies scholarship in the humanities? Is it possible to attain objective truth in fields such as history or literary studies or philosophy, or is everything a matter of perspective or standpoint? It is possible for fields in the humanities to make progress, and if so, how? And what should we make of the political aims of the humanities—for example, the desire by many scholars in the humanities to uncover systems of oppression and domination? Do such political agendas interfere with “objective” scholarship or not? A host of new topics are also considered, such as whether or not replication studies are possible and worthwhile in the context of the humanities, and whether deference to other scholars is legitimate in the humanities. Finally, new “case studies” are introduced that look at how fields such as history, literary studies, and musicology advance our understanding of their topics, and a provocative set of new “rules” for interpretation in the humanities is proposed.

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