Problem of Objectivity in History and Historiography: The Study of Hayden White

Abstract

There is unanimity among historiographers that history is the reconstruction of the past which depends upon the historians, the past events and the facts and their interpretation. A historian starts to reconstruct the past events and thinks to be objective then problems begin. The social scientist of the 19^th century especially the relativists historian’s complete objectivity is possible. Historians are also part of this world and their imagination and writings certainly are the result of the same. A social scientist’s ideological, cultural and intellectual inclinations limit the extent of objectivity. The question arises here that if total objectivity is not possible then is it worthless to pursue objectivity. It is true that it is not possible the complete reconstruction of past but partial reconstruction can be achieved. What the forms of writing history and features such Annals, Chronicles etc.? How to reconstruct the past events impartially? What is history with objectivity? What are the methods of representation of the past? Is it possible to write an objective narrative in a limited sense? The article tries to find out answer to these questions.