Historicity and explanation

Some scientific explanations are distinctively historical. The aim of this paper is to say what gives such explanations their historical character. A secondary aim is to describe what makes an explanation a stronger or weaker historical explanation. We begin with a critical discussion of John Beatty's and Eric Desjardins' work on historicity and historical narrative. We then offer an alternative account of historical explanation that draws on the work of earlier philosophers (Gallie, Danto, Mink, and Hull). In that alternative account, we highlight four features of narrative explanation that Beatty and Desjardins underemphasize: central subjects; historical trajectories; the idea that historical narratives are known retrospectively; and criteria for determining what is a stronger or weaker historical narrative.     

《艽野尘梦》：1909年川军入藏的历史心性及社会诗学研究

1909年，川军钟颖部自康藏，沿昌都进入西藏工布地区。湘人陈渠珍任管带一职，参与大小战事数起。1911年，川军入藏部队发生哗变。陈渠珍率湘中子弟一百十五人东归。历经艰险困苦，仅七人生还。1936年，“湘西王”陈渠珍以笔记体的方式将此次传奇经历进行介绍。与众多关于历史转折时期“宏大叙述”不同，《艽野尘梦》通过历史主角的微观视角，介绍了特定时期的历史参与者间不同的国家／地方观，以及在静态事件背后的动态过程。《艽野尘梦》及任乃强先生校注通过道路行程中主观体验，对于不同区域的风土人情与社会文化进行生动细致介绍。这些都将加深我们对于中国西南民族“历史心性”塑造过程的认识，及其繁扰纷争之外超越性“民族诗学”的最终体验。