History and the mirror of the past : A pragmatic perspective on debates in historical theory in Sweden 1965-2015

This master thesis studies debates on historical theory in Sweden ́s two main historical journals, Historisk tidskrift and Scandia, during the last fifty years. The study investigates discussions of epistemological questions, the purposes of historical writing, and the influence of postmodernism. The theoretical approach and methodology used is inspired by the American pragmatist philosopher Richard Rorty. In a concluding chapter Rorty’s writings are used to confront the study’s results. The purpose of this is to highlight certain problems from the investigation. It is argued that the vocabulary used by the Swedish historians is an effect of the correspondence theory of truth, and that a pragmatic approach to the study of history could help history break free from that unfortunate vocabulary.