Publication
Title
A higher form of hermeneutics? The digital humanities in political historiography
Author
Abstract
Rens Bods optimism with regard to digital research tools also seems to be justified for the field of political history. In particular, these tools will enable us to ask questions that were hitherto unthinkable, and try to answer them on an unenvisaged scale. Unlike that which Bod suggests, however, this development will not bring us closer to revealing some alleged universal patterns in history and therefore herald a new era of Positivism. On the contrary, the digital research tools will show us manifold differences, both diachronic and synchronic, in the way (groups of) political actors identified themselves and gave meaning to the world surrounding them. Moreover, they will enable us to relate these differences to a broad range of social variables. If we really want to test the validity of these relationships however, we will have to actually interpret the texts and read them hermeneutically in their precise historical contexts.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Bijdragen en mededelingen betreffende de geschiedenis der Nederlanden. - 's-Gravenhage, 1969, currens
Publication
's-Gravenhage : Nederlands Historisch Genootschap , 2013
ISSN
0165-0505 [print]
2211-2898 [online]
Volume/pages
128 :4 (2013) , p. 164-170
ISI
000329260000010
Full text (open access)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 20.12.2013
Last edited 09.10.2023
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