An Ethnologist's View of History / An Address Before the Annual Meeting of the New Jersey Historical Society, at Trenton, New Jersey, January 28, 1896

Name: An Ethnologist's View of History / An Address Before the Annual Meeting of the New Jersey Historical Society, at Trenton, New Jersey, January 28, 1896
Author: Daniel G. Brinton

By Daniel G. Brinton

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About This Book

The address frames the proliferation of historical study and asks what the aim of history should be. It reviews three prevailing approaches: history as mere accurate chronicle, history as advocacy or teleologic proof of preexisting beliefs, and history as the exposition of fixed evolutionary laws. It critiques the insufficiency of pure annals and the deductive bias of polemical and deterministic interpretations, urging historians to adopt an inductive, scientific method while also shaping narrative with artistic unity. Ethnological perspective is used to caution against simplistic mechanical evolution and to recommend extracting general laws from collected facts.

About the Author

Daniel G. Brinton

Daniel G. Brinton was an influential American anthropologist and linguist known for his extensive studies of Native American cultures and languages. His works often explored the intersection of anthropology, history, and literature, contributing significantly to the understanding of indigenous peoples in North America. Among his notable publications is "A Primer of Mayan Hieroglyphics," which reflects his interest in ancient languages and their cultural contexts. Brinton's scholarship also includes studies on folklore, mythology, and the literary history of the Floridian Peninsula, showcasing his diverse interests and expertise in the field of Americanist studies.