Is History Bunk?

Five CSU, Chico, Faculty Members from the Philosophy and History Departments 

Five CSU, Chico professors engage in a lively discussion of the question of historical truth; more specifically, how do post-modernist definitions of truth intersect with historical practice and the nature of history as an academic discipline? Post-modernism attacks the notion that history is different from literature because historians claim they are using facts. The post-modernist argues that the historian’s choice of certain facts and how he/she tries to give these facts/events meaning and context shows that history is inherently subjective. The panel includes Dr. Jason Nice and Dr. Laird Easton, CSU, Chico History Department Faculty; and Dr. Edward Pluth, Dr. Wai-hung Wong, and Dr. Zanja Yudell, CSU, Chico Philosophy Department Faculty. 

Recorded: November 5, 2013