Some error occured while loading the Quick View. Please close the Quick View and try reloading the page.
A masterful philosophical exploration that reveals how we can truly know—and trust—our understanding of the past.
What does it mean to know the past—and how can such knowledge claim truth, objectivity, or reality? In Philosophical Foundations of Historical Knowledge, Murray G. Murphey confronts these enduring questions with remarkable clarity and intellectual force.
Bridging epistemology, metaphysics, and historiography, Murphey constructs a rigorous and compelling account of how historical knowledge is possible. From the complexities of meaning and reference to the challenges of understanding other minds, causation, and human action, this work systematically builds toward a powerful defense of pragmatic naturalism and natural realism. Each chapter deepens the inquiry, culminating in a sophisticated vision of truth and reality as they apply to our understanding of the past.
Widely praised for its analytical precision and originality, Murphey engages deeply with contemporary philosophical debates while remaining lucid and accessible. Murphey's mastery of diverse literatures allows him to weave a single, sustained argument—one that reshapes how we think about history as a discipline and as a form of knowledge.
"This is philosophy of the highest order. Several of the most fundamental and challenging philosophical problems are discussed with analytical rigor, subtlety, originality, technical sophistication, detailed familiarity with the vast relevant literature, and lucidity. What I find most exciting is the way Murphey is able to make a powerful case for pragmatic naturalism and natural realism on the basis of an amazing mastery of the vast recent literature in diverse fields. Anyone interested in basic issues of epistemology and metaphysics will find the discussion fascinating. " — Peter H. Hare
"This book is magnificently written, is solidly grounded in the literature, and carefully establishes its main points. Here is a book that is needed right now. It is an important, well-argued book and one I am eager to have. It is fascinating!" — Ralph McInerny
"This is an impressive book. The author is a clear thinker and writes very effectively. Moreover, the topic is central not only to issues of historiography, but also to much of the contemporary discussions which have to do with knowledge." — Jorge J. E. Gracia
"This is an extraordinary piece of work. It is a carefully argued, highly original piece of scholarship. The book is one long argument for a realistic interpretation of the writing and value of history. One must call it a learned, clear, coherent, persuasive work. To read it is to recognize its value." — Jude P. Dougherty, Editor, The Review of Metaphysics
Murray G. Murphey is Professor of American Civilization at the University of Pennsylvania.
Introduction
1. Meaning and Reference
2. Other Minds and Intersubjective Knowledge
3. Causation and Explanation
4. Action
5. Rules
6. Truth and Reality
7. Knowledge of the Past
8. Conclusion
Indices