Narratіve theory of hіstorіcal knowledge: hіstorіcal dіscіplіne on the path to methodologіcal cosmopolіtanіsm

Abstract

Abstract. The article is devoted to the consideration of narrative theory of historical knowledge as a set of separate concepts of narrative philosophy of history of the second half of the 20th century – early 21st century. The author briefly draws attention to the debate between early narrativists and their critics, and also examines their arguments, which laid the methodological foundation for the further development of narrative philosophy of history within the analytical philosophical tradition. Due to the fact that individual narrative concepts of historical knowledge often competed with each other, they actively engaged the conceptual and methodological tools of other philosophical schools and approaches. With time, this led to the formation of a unique feature of narrative philosophy of history — methodological openness, which in turn lays the foundations for the methodological cosmopolitanism of historical science as a broad complex of knowledge. 

The author formulates and analyzes such characteristics of narrative theory of historical knowledge as methodological openness, openness to criticism, narrative tolerance, perspectivism, and instrumentalist understanding of historical narrative. It is emphasized that these conceptual foundations allow narrative theory of historical knowledge to be considered an independent comprehensive approach in the philosophy of the humanities. It should be noted that due to its internal diversity and methodological openness, narrative theory of historical knowledge, represented by a synthesis of various philosophical concepts and approaches, plays an important role in contemporary philosophy of history and claims the status of a cosmopolitan methodological system. By extensively drawing on the principles and methods of research of both analytical philosophy and other philosophical schools (pragmatism, phenomenology, internal realism), as well as literary theory, the narrative approach in the theory of historical knowledge generates significant conceptual potential and provides methodological tools for studying the historical past.