Truth and archaeology : justification in archaeology
Many causes have been proposed for the transition to agriculture but how can archaeologists debate rival interpretations of the record with a seat-of-your-pants theoretical methodology? Truth is a concept that has been the subject of considerable thought and analysis by philosophers for millennia and is a conceptual resource that archaeologists can draw on. The aim of this thesis is twofold. Firstly, the aim is to study the epistemological criteria used in the formulation and assessment of archaeological knowledge: bringing new understanding of knowledge formation in archaeology and how to deal with competing interpretations of the past (specifically with political and ethical ramifications). The second aim is to assess these epistemological criteria and position them in light of the literature on philosophical theories of truth. The focus of this thesis is on the justification project which attempts to identify a characteristic which is possessed by most true propositions and not possessed by most false propositions. In other words, what it is that makes certain statements about the past 'true' or 'not true'. The aim is to understand how archaeological claims about the past come to be made and against what
Boddington, Monique Ingrid
Archaeology Epistemology ; CÂžatalhoÂšyuÂšk ; Archaeology ontology ; Justification in archaeology ; Archaeological interpretation ; Agricultural revolution ; Archaeology politics and ethics ; Archaeology as political action
Truth and archaeology : justification in archaeology. Many causes have been proposed for the transition to agriculture but how can archaeologists debate rival interpretations of the record with a seat-of-your-pants theoretical methodology? Truth is a concept that has been the subject of considerable thought and analysis by philosophers for millennia and is a conceptual resource that archaeologists can draw on. The aim of this thesis is twofold. Firstly, the aim is to study the epistemological criteria used in the formulation and assessment of archaeological knowledge: bringing new understanding of knowledge formation in archaeology and how to deal with competing interpretations of the past (specifically with political and ethical ramifications). The second aim is to assess these epistemological criteria and position them in light of the literature on philosophical theories of truth. The focus of this thesis is on the justification project which attempts to identify a characteristic which is possessed by most true propositions and not possessed by most false propositions. In other words, what it is that makes certain statements about the past 'true' or 'not true'. The aim is to understand how archaeological claims about the past come to be made and against what
truth archaeology justification archaeology many cause propose transition_agriculture archaeologists debate rival interpretation record seat theoretical truth concept subject_considerable thought analysis philosopher millennia conceptual resource archaeologist draw aim twofold firstly aim_study epistemological criterion_use formulation assessment archaeological_knowledge bring_new knowledge_formation archaeology deal compete interpretation past specifically political ethical ramification second_aim ass epistemological criterion position light literature philosophical theory_truth focus justification project_attempt identify characteristic possess true proposition possess false proposition word make certain statement past true not true aim archaeological claim past come make