The New York Times today on a philosopher of
history who reportedly died on Monday, March 5 —
“Perhaps White’s most controversial idea,
and one for which he was so often shunned
by his fellow historians, is that ‘all stories
are fictions,’ ” Robert Doran, a professor at
the University of Rochester … said by email.
"White held that while historical facts are
scientifically verifiable, stories are not.
Stories are made, not found in the historical data;
historical meaning is imposed on historical facts
by means of the choice of plot-type, and this choice
is inevitably ethical and political at bottom.
"This is what White called 'emplotment,' a term
he coined," Dr. Doran continued. "Even the most basic
beginning-middle-end structure of a story represents
an imposition: The historian chooses where to begin,
where to end, and what points are important in the middle.
There is no scientific test for 'historical significance.' "
From this journal on Monday, White's reported date of death —
Plan 9 continues.