Mandelbaum's Noble Dream

Journal of the Philosophy of History, 2012

This paper is a classic critique of speculative philosophies of history based on Maurice Mandelbaum’s work. Unlike the more famous invective by Karl Popper, I argue that Mandelbaum’s is a richer and more interesting approach, which reveals through exposition a deeper unity to Mandelbaum’s work than is normally evident. Because Popper’s nominalism is suspicious of all metaphysics, it loses credibility whereas Mandelbaum placed reflection on the nature of society and causality at the center of his interests. Mandelbaum’s critique then is an invitation to investigate metaphysics on realist principles and he requires that we have a robust theory of historical ontology and truth with which to judge what goes beyond the proper representation of history and becomes speculative.

Graduate Faculty Philosophy Journal, 2016

Poznan Studies in Philosophy: Towards a Revival of Analytical Philosophy of History Around Paul A. Roth's Vision of Historical Sciences, 2018

Towards a Revival of Analytical Philosophy of History

Nature, 2004

Wittgenstein: The Philosopher and his Works

Gestalt Theory, 2000

NESEEES Conference, April 1 2017, 2017

Many twentieth century literary scholars undertook prominent attempts to uncover patterns in history, the Russian Formalists among them, especially Boris Eikhenbaum with his interpretation of history as a “science of double vision.” As significant are Walter Benjamin’s interpretation of history through allegory and Erich Auerbach’s interpretation of it through the concept of figura. Despite the prominence of these three theories, the German ones have been scarcely compared with the Russian. By comparing all three, I invite you to join me in my musings about the significance of each.