A Multi-Paradigmatic Approach to Understanding History

Book excerpt: This book explores the field of history through a multi-paradigmatic approach. For this purpose, it begins with a discussion of four most diverse worldviews or paradigms (namely, functionalist, interpretive, radical humanist, and radical structuralist), before moving on to consider four aspects of the field of history (historiography, grand narrative, progress, and time) from the viewpoints of the four most diverse worldviews or paradigms. Next, the book looks at three historical events (the French Revolution, the American Civil War, and the Iranian Revolution) from the viewpoints of the four most diverse worldviews or paradigms. It concludes by recommending paradigm diversity, as an understanding of different paradigms leads to a more comprehensive and a more balanced understanding of the multi-faceted nature of the subject matter.