Truth and History

Murray G. Murphey is Professor Emeritus of American Civilization at the University of Pennsylvania. He is the author of many books, including the CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title C. I. Lewis: The Last Great Pragmatist, also published by SUNY Press, and (with Elizabeth Flower) A History of Philosophy in America.

• Preface1. Metaphysics and Epistemology2. Evidence3. Explanation4. Theory5. Narrative6. Confirmation 17. Confirmation 2Conclusion: The Logic of HistoryNotesIndex

"Truth and History is a fascinating argument for historiographic realism by one of the giants in the field of philosophy of historiography. This book is the culmination of almost half a century of major contributions to analytic philosophy of history by Murphey. I should recommend it to any philosopher who is interested in questions of realism and antirealism about the past and the nature of historiography (the writings of historians) and any historian interested in the philosophic foundations of their practice. Murphey is equally comfortable with contemporary philosophy and historical research. One of the main virtues of this philosophical book is that it is full of useful case studies and illustrations from historiography. This is philosophy that blooms by having roots deep in the ground of historiographic research." — Aviezer Tucker, author of Our Knowledge of the Past: A Philosophy of Historiography"Murphey's treatment of the problem of history and theory is excellent, and it will help sharpen perceptions of history and contribute to an understanding of the discipline that is appropriately complex." — William Graebner, coeditor of The American Record: Images of the Nation's Past, Fifth Edition