S00165700 Zac Boyd

Hannah Forsyth

Tuesday 12:00pm

What does EH Carr's argument in 'The Historian and His Facts' imply for 'objective'
or 'biased' history? Do you agree with him? Why/why not?
History is a perpetual unending span and by attempting to objectify parts of history we sacrifice our
insight to link past and present together.1 Carr vehemently rejected the idea that history could be
objective and I am inclined to side with him.2 While Carr concedes that there is a common sense
fact to all of history, this is limited to basic details such as dates.3 However, Carr would determine
this as history without meaning or significance therefore it is a heresy of history and cannot be a
factor in the argument for an objective history.4
Embedded in his argument is that historians struggle to separate their own views from the subject they
write on.5 This becomes evident in selective history where historians manipulate history to push a
certain agenda. The bias of the historian shapes the story of history, one of which Carr suggests
demeans the work of the historian, as they do not tell the whole story.6
I share Carrs perception of a need of objective free history. As Blake stated in his paper on the
objectivity in history, to objectify something is to assess it as whole, which is simply not possible for
a subject such as history.7 Herein by incorporating both of these aspects synthesises my reasoning as
to why I agree with Carrs notion that you cannot properly objectify history.

Edward Hallet Carr, What is History? (London, UK: Penguin Books, 1961), 26.
Christopher Blake, Can History be Objective? Mind 64, no. 253 (1955): 68. Blake deals with the definition of
objectivity in relation to history in his article. I am utilising his idea that objectivity is synonymous with
wholeness.
3
Carr, History? 10.
4
Carr, History?, 29.
5
Carr, History?, 24.
6
Carr, History?, 18.
7
Blake, Can History be Objective? 77.
2

S00165700 Zac Boyd

Hannah Forsyth
Bibliography

Blake, Christopher. Can History be Objective? Mind 64, no. 253 (1955): 61-78.
Carr, Hallet Edward. What is History. London, UK: Penguin Books, 1961.

Tuesday 12:00pm