Tag Archives: History

TOUCHSTONES OF HISTORY: ANSCOMBE, HUME, AND JULIUS CAESAR

Catherine Z. ELGIN ABSTRACT: In “Hume and Julius Caesar,” G.E.M. Anscombe argues that some historical claims, such as “Julius Caesar was assassinated,” serve as touchstones for historical knowledge. Only Cartesian doubt can call them into question. I examine her reasons for thinking that the discipline of history must be grounded in claims that it is powerless to discredit. I argue that …

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