medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Good day, eh?
Majorie Green wrote:
> I've been mulling over several comments on the list regarding those who
have reviewed the _dVC_. It would seem that only "unbiased" (read:
non-believers?) reviewers are worth considering.
I admit: I am seriously confused.
How does a perfectly unbiased author write history?
If one is perfectly unbiased, one lacks biases,
ipson facto. Lacking biases, one lacks preferences
also. How, then, does the perfectly unbiased
historian chose WHICH history to write about?
Unless I misunderstand the word "bias" in the way
that the OED misunderstands it, the unbiased historian
MUST write the history of EVERYTHING. If she leaves
anything out intentionally, She is ipso facto BIASED.
However, the unbiased historian cannot weigh the
evidence. To judge some evidence as more worthy
of credence than other evidence betrays bias.
Thus the unbiased historian must write the absolutely
complete history of absolutely everything, neglecting
no mention of anything. He must include the illogical,
even the nonsensical, for to omit it in favour of the
logical is an obvious case of bias.
Being unbiased is laudable in many areas, but I
do not understand how this state is achieved in
the writing of history.
I also do not understand why it is desirable.
What makes a vast, all-encompassing compilation
of events preferable to a thoughtful, careful,
fair, but admittedly biased sifting of the
evidence concerning an event or series of events
the historian deems important (another bias) and
presenting the logical (still another bias)
results of his careful, fair, but biased study?
I readily admit I study those things I deem
important (a bias). I attempt to choose the
relevant and material (in the forensic sense
of having some weight of argument) evidence
(more biases). I try to draw fair conclusions
that include an understanding of contrary
positions (still another bias). I readily
admit that I often -- even usually -- fail.
Am I making my task unnecessarily difficult
by refusing to merely record all the statements
made about everything? Is history really done
using the technique a long-haired dog uses to
collect burrs in a pasture?
Bewildered regards to all,
Frank
**********************************************************************
To join the list, send the message: join medieval-religion YOUR NAME
to: [log in to unmask]
To send a message to the list, address it to:
[log in to unmask]
To leave the list, send the message: leave medieval-religion
to: [log in to unmask]
In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to:
[log in to unmask]
For further information, visit our web site:
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/medieval-religion.html
|