Abstract
It has become commonplace for North-American historians to speak and write about a 'crisis' in their profession, although they differ . . . about its nature and on how to resolve it. Social, cultural, and political historians are primarily concerned with the 'disciplinary crisis,' which they relate to the problematic connection between history and the social sciences. At the center of their discussions are methods, subject matter, and sometimes the uses of historical knowledge. Another group, largely consisting of intellectual historians, philosophers, and critical theorists, believe that history is experiencing a 'cognitive crisis' and focus on the relationship between history and literature, especially the problems raised by new linguistic theories concerning the basis of human understanding." This article summarizes the debate in the 'American Historical Review' (see entry 41A:4247), remembering that Hermes, the inventor of language and the messenger of the gods, was not always a welcome guest.