Practicing theory and theorizing practice

ABSTRACT

History offers the chance to act as an author and actor at the same time. It works as a great stage on which the theatre of the world plays out. The historian has the privilege of being apart from and a part of history. The historian thus functions as both author and actor, and the historical operation should always combine theory and practice. Theoretical reflection allows us to delve into the reality of historical authorship, connecting us to the present from which we try to access the past. Historical practice brings us closer to the protagonists of the past, trying to improve the world we live in. When historians practice both theory and practice, they are immunized from an archaeological history that is not relevant for its society as well as from a critical history conditioned by ideological, reductionist, or manipulative presentism. In this sense, being open to practicing history and theorizing the practice of history makes historians more realistic in their approaches to the past and in their theories of how to approach that past.

KEYWORDS:

• Historiography
• autobiography
• authorship
• theory and Practice
• historical Criticism
• presentism
• classics

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.