Research On The Historical Thought Of Elton

In the second half of the 20 th century,the traditional British empirical historiography was impacted by the development of "new historiography" and the birth of postmodern historiography.The objectivity of historical research,the regularity of historical development and the feasibility of interdisciplinary research have become the focus of debate between old and new historians.Elton,a British historian of empiricism,insisted on "returning to the essence" and advocated the use of traditional empiricism for historical research.Elton's historical thought of "returning to the essence" triggered a debate between the old and new historical thoughts in British historiography after world war ii,and his supporters called him a strong defender of traditional historiography.For such an iconic historian in the development of British historiography,taking him as the research object will help to grasp the basic trend of the development of British historiography after world war ii in a deeper way and better understand the context of the development of British historiography in the 20 th century.Based on his works on history,this paper uses the methodsof literature research and comparative analysis to study his life experience,his ontology,epistemology and methodology,as well as the value and influence of his thoughts on history.First of all,Elton's life experience and academic career played a direct role in the formation of his empirical historical view.Furthermore,the three aspects of Elton's ontology,epistemology and methodology are interrelated and inseparable.In terms of ontology,Elton emphasizes the objectivity of historical development process,emphasizes that history is the understanding of special things,and denies that historical development has rules to follow.In terms of epistemology,Elton insisted on the primacy of evidence in historical studies,affirmed the influence of historians' own qualities on historical studies,and believed that historical studies lay in the "shaping of rational thinking" of human beings.In terms of methodology,Elton questioned the feasibility of interdisciplinary research and opposed that historical research was too much subject to historical philosophy.Finally,Elton's historical thought is a defense of the tradition of empirical historiography,which is of great significance to deal with the challenge of postmodern historiography.Although the empirical historiography was challenged and impacted by other historiography thoughts in the 20 th century,it still showed its tenacious vitality.In the game with "new historiography" and post-modern historiography,the empirical historiography absorbed other historiography thoughts and developed into the new empirical historiography.This paper aims to deeply grasp the essence and connotation of traditional British historiography that emphasizes practice over theory,and further understand the development and evolution of British empirical historiography in the 20 th century through the analysis and research of Elton's historical thoughts.