A Continuation of Paul Grobstein’s Theory of Science as Story Telling and Story Revising: A Discussion of its Relevance to History

• Main Author: Toni Weller
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Athabasca University Press 2006-01-01
• Series: Journal of Research Practice
• Subjects: historical method; scientific method; culture; truth; story; subjectivity
• Online Access: http://jrp.icaap.org/content/v2.1/weller.html

This paper applies Paul Grobstein’s theory of science as story telling and story revising to history. The purpose of drawing such links is to show that in our current age when disciplinary borders are becoming increasingly blurred, what may be effective research practice for one discipline, may have some useful insights for another. It argues that what Grobstein advocates for science makes just as much sense for history and that historians have long recognised in their own discipline many of the points Grobstein raises. It examines the changing role of stories dependant upon their cultural context and the emergence of global stories due to advances in technology. Such advances also challenge traditional methods of telling the story. It suggests that we may be entering a period which demands a new discourse on the relationship between human knowledge, understanding, and culture.