,You got your history, I got mine’

Some reflections on truth and objectivity in history

Abstract

The author offers a critical appraisal of some central problems of post-modern historiography. Starting from Keith Jenkins's introduction to his postmodern history reader and referring to authors such as Michel Foucault, Hayden White and Michel de Certeau, Lorenz once again raises the question whether history/ies can be true or objective. Distancing himself decidedly from all trivialising forms of the receptions of postmodern thought, but at the same time remaining sceptical towards the likes of Foucault, de Certeau and White, Lorenz tries to formulate the basic outlines of those conditions, which might allow us to answer the initial question in the positive. His polemical and pointed essay is crowned by a discussion of the relationship between history and the instrumentality and legitimacy of power.