Description
Forms of Comparison: Marc Bloch and the Human Sciences
Book Summary
This essay explores the evolution of the comparative method in the human sciences through the work of historian Marc Bloch. The author, Carlos Alberto Ríos Gordillo, analyzes how comparison has been a fundamental tool from prehistoric reasoning to modern historiography, touching upon anthropology, sociology, and linguistics. The reader will find a rigorous study that connects the practices of figures such as Herodotus, Frazer, Durkheim, and Meillet with the work of Bloch, considered the standard-bearer of comparative history. A key work for understanding the morphology of historical thought and its relationship with other disciplines.
What is it about?
The book is structured around a central question: how have the different forms of comparison been articulated throughout the history of thought? To answer this, the author traces a path that begins with the reasoning of the Neolithic hunter, who contrasts tracks to identify his prey, and connects it to the historian Herodotus, who defined Greek identity in contrast to the barbarians. From there, he examines the methodologies of key figures such as anthropologist James Frazer, sociologist Émile Durkheim, linguist Antoine Meillet, and historian Henri Pirenne. The culmination is the work of Marc Bloch, who synthesized these influences to consolidate comparative history as a discipline. The essay explores the relationships between morphology and history, showing how each form of comparison has shaped the knowledge of human societies.
Main Themes
- Evolution of the comparative method in historiography and the social sciences.
- Influence of anthropology, sociology, and linguistics on the work of Marc Bloch.
- Relationship between historical morphology and comparative reasoning.
- Analysis of comparative practices from antiquity to the 20th century.
- The figure of Marc Bloch as a reference for comparative history.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at students and professionals in history, anthropology, sociology, and linguistics interested in the methodological foundations of their disciplines. It is also suitable for researchers seeking to understand the evolution of comparative thought and its application in the analysis of past and present societies. Readers with a background in social theory or historiography will find a deep and well-documented analysis.
What this book offers
- An integrative vision of the comparative method across different human sciences.
- Keys to understanding how Marc Bloch revolutionized historiography with his comparative approach.
- An analysis of the connections between seemingly disparate disciplines such as linguistics and history.
- Conceptual tools for applying comparative reasoning in one's own research.
- Historical contextualization of the main currents of social and humanistic thought.
Technical Specifications
- Author: Ríos Gordillo, Carlos Alberto
- Publisher: Anthropos Editorial
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: HISTORICAL AND COMPARATIVE LINGUISTICS, GRAMMAR, SYNTAX AND MORPHOLOGY, LITERARY ESSAYS, HISTORIOGRAPHY, SOCIAL THEORY
- Collection: CRITICAL / UTOPIAN THOUGHT
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication Date: November 2016
- Number of pages: 240
- Weight: 300 g
Editorial Review
This is a high-level academic essay that offers an original synthesis of the comparative method, a central theme in the human sciences. The work stands out for its ability to build bridges between disciplines and for the rigor with which it addresses the figure of Marc Bloch. It is an essential read for those wishing to delve into the theoretical foundations of history and the social sciences, although it requires some familiarity with specialized vocabulary. Its critical and well-structured approach makes it a valuable resource for research and teaching.