It is in this respect that the historical imagination differs from the literary imagination. The historian uses his imagination to re-capture the past as closely as his data permit him, but in thus using his imagination he differs from the literary artist in that he could not, should not, allow his imagination to roam wildly but to put a rein to its flight by sticking closely to his facts. On the other hand, the processed data are given life, meaning, and significance by the artistic temperament of the historian and thereby becomes a branch of the humanistic studies. The historian’s methodology is scientific and does not allow the literary artist’s imagination to interfere with the scientific method of investigating the data used in historical writing.
Only a small minority believes it to belong to the humanities and, consequently, belongs to the realm of literature.Īs a student of history, I have always held the belief that history as a discipline and as a species of composition has the elements of the humanities and the social sciences. In the Philippines, history is considered by the great majority of students and teachers as social science. Among students of history, there has been a disagreement: some consider it a social science, while others classify it with the humanities. Social scientists, generally speaking, are of the belief that history is a social science, a stand that is questioned by the humanists. At the University of Chicago, however, it is classified as humanities and social science, and the student is given the dubious privilege of choosing whether the discipline should be included in his humanities or social science requirements.
When one looks over the catalogues of universities here and abroad, one finds that history as a discipline is categorized as a social science. To celebrate his birth centennial, we are publishing two essays from the book History and Culture, Language and Literature: Selected Essays of Teodoro A.
His notable works include The History of the Filipino People Malolos: The Crisis of the Republic The Writings and Trials of Bonifacio and Revolt of the Masses. Marcos for his contributions to Philippine History. In 1985 Agoncillo was included in the roster of the Order of National Scientists by President Ferdinand E. Today, his works are considered essential to the study of Philippine history, and have also transcended to the realm of classic literature. His new brand of historiography did away with conventional ways of writing the history of Philippines-through the eyes of foreigners-and introduced a more Filipino-centric style, seeing the events of the Philippines unfold through the eyes of Filipinos. Agoncillo is considered one of the most important historians of our time.
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