Abstract
In the 1960s the American New Archaeology recommended a logical empiricist, positivist research programme. But in philosophy positivism was by then already out of date. Also in archaeology it was much criticized, and some post-processualists ended up in total relativism. It has been maintained that we cannot attain any objective truth about the past, but have to form a subjective picture of it. But archaeology does not have to choose between positivism and relativism. A new philosphical school, theoretical realism, allows archaeologists to speak of the prehistoric past as a reality, not as a construction or a fiction. The research strategy observed by all good archaeologists since the beginning of our science in the 1830s is good and will lead to thrustworthy results.
Highlights
In the 1960s the American New Archaeology recommended a logical empiricist, positivist research programtne
Positivism was out of date already when introduced into American New Archaeology and Swedish historical research (Gibbon 1989: 35; Winberg 1990:5).In Anglo-American philosophy it was sharply criticized since the 1950», and in 1962 the new situation became evident to all the learned world by Kuhn's famous book
In sum: in all sciences there is a distinction between direct observable data and an underlying essential reality about which we want to obtain knowledge. In prehistoric archaeology this distinction is uniquely clear, since we have to extract a verbal account from an absolutely mute material of artelacts. How is it possible that archaeology in the last decade was so deeply affected by relativism, that many archaeologists seem to be sceptical about the possibility to obtain safe knowledge about the prehistoric past? Richard Watson, who is a philosopher by profession. underlines that pi&ilocopi&ical scepticism cannot be refuted (1991:280).But archaeologists are not philosophers, Watson maintains, and so they need not be concerned with metaphysical questions about reality
Summary
In the 1960s the American New Archaeology recommended a logical empiricist, positivist research programtne. Swedish historical research an animated debate on theory started in 1965 with an explicit appeal to use positivistic principles (Winberg refers to Björklund 1965). Positivism was out of date already when introduced into American New Archaeology and Swedish historical research (Gibbon 1989: 35; Winberg 1990:5).In Anglo-American philosophy it was sharply criticized since the 1950», and in 1962 the new situation became evident to all the learned world by Kuhn's famous book.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
