Key Issues in Historical Theory by Herman Paul is an English-language study book that focuses on important questions within historical theory. This book is intended for students in higher education who seek deeper insight into reflection on history and how people relate to the past.
The book addresses themes such as history, memory and trauma, historical experience, narrative, and the moral and political dimensions of history. In addition, Herman Paul discusses historical reasoning, truth, and objectivity. Using examples from literature, music, journalism, and politics, he discusses how historical theory is not only relevant to professional historiography, but also to autobiography, cultural heritage, and political debates about the past. This updated edition includes new examples and covers recent discussions on presentism, post-truth, and the Anthropocene.
The book is thematically aligned with fields such as history, epistemology, and the theory of knowledge, and is a valuable reference work for study and research within historical theory.