De l'histoire considérée comme science

A major 1894 work championing history as scientific inquiry and highlighting the importance of economic and social factors.

Paul Lacombe (Author)

9781108054652, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 4 July 2013

434 pages
21.6 x 14 x 2.5 cm, 0.55 kg

Paul Lacombe (1834–1919) had a varied career as a historian, senior official and general inspector of libraries and archives. He was one of the most brilliant minds of his day: in 1859 he graduated as first in his class from the elite École Nationale des Chartes, and he was made Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur in 1887. In 1894, Lacombe published this groundbreaking work, which put him at the heart of the debate about l'histoire science - history served by scientific inquiry - at a time of intense controversy among historians and sociologists. Lacombe insisted on the need for the historian to make strict selections of evidence and to establish a hierarchy among facts. He also laid the foundations of a history which brings social and economic factors to the forefront of investigation. The book remains important and relevant to historians, sociologists and ethnologists.

Préface
1. Le domaine de l'histoire science et ses limites
2. Des rapports de la psychologie et de l'histoire
3. De l'homme général donné par la psychologie
4. L'urgence
5. Les méthodes de l'histoire
6. Revue des institutions
7. L'homme temporaire ou historique
8. Des divers degrés de civilisation
9. Rôle primordial de la richesse
10. Le travail, le savoir, l'épargne, conditions de la richesse et leurs effets
11. Autre condition: l'outillage
12. Les inventions capitales et leurs effets
13. Causes psychiques et sociales du progrès
14. L'homme individual et la contingence dans l'histoire
15. De la loi du progrès
16. De la loi du progrès (suite)
17. La question du progrès organique
18. La race, l'hérédité
19. Les problèmes historiques
20. La prévision.

Subject Areas: European history [HBJD]