MODULE 1 LESSON 3 Historical Criticism PDF

# Module 1: Lesson Three ## "Anybody can make history. Only a great man can write it." -Oscar Wilde ## Objectives. What will you learn from this module? At the end of this module, you should be able to: 1. Distinguish the nature of historical criticism. 2. Critique the credibility and the authent...

# Module 1: Lesson Three ## "Anybody can make history. Only a great man can write it." -Oscar Wilde ## Objectives. What will you learn from this module? At the end of this module, you should be able to: 1. Distinguish the nature of historical criticism. 2. Critique the credibility and the authenticity of historical text. 3. Appreciate the value of checking credibility and authenticity of historical text. ## Introduction Now that you are done with the second module which is the Sources of History, let's proceed to the last lesson of the module. On the previous lesson, you learned about the different kinds of written and non-written historical sources. In order for a source to be used as evidence in history, basic matters about its form and content must be settled. ## Activity. Let Us See What You Already Know Hello there! My name is Abigail, I need to go shopping. However, I cannot go to the mall right now due to lockdown. So, I downloaded Zalada, an online shopping application. Upon scrolling, some of the items are fake. I am afraid of the possibility of checking out products that are not original. Can you help me find authentic products? Help Abigail in checking the authenticity of the product by encircling "Add to Cart" button. ## Analysis Based from the activity, is it important to check or critique products or information that we get from social media? Why or Why not? ## How was your experience? Did you have fun? I had a lot of fun too! Thanks for helping me out! I cannot imagine my online shopping experience without your help. I learned a lot from you. Since we really cannot easily avoid fake items online, it is really important to check quality of the product that we're eyeing for. We need to examine if it's original or fake so that it will not be a waste of effort, time, and money. Just like history, we also need to check the authenticity and the credibility of the historical texts that we use in learning. Continue to study the module to find out ways in doing historical criticism. Are you ready? You may go to the next page to continue the last topic of the Module 1. # Module 3 | Historical Criticism 12 # Lesson 3: Historical Criticism ## Abstraction Historical criticism examines the origins of earliest text to appreciate the underlying circumstances upon which the text came to be (Soulen & Soulen, 2001). The two (2) important goals in historical criticism are: - To discover the original meaning of the text in its primitive or historical context and its literal sense **sensus literalis historicus**. - To establish a reconstruction of the historical situation of the author and recipients of the text. Historical criticism has two (2) parts which are: - To determine the authenticity of the material, also called provenance of a source. - To weigh the testimony of the truth - higher criticism. ## Parts Of Historical Criticism - Provenance Of The Source - Higher Criticism ## Types Of Historical Criticism ### External Criticism - It determines the authenticity of the source: to spot fabricated, forged, faked documents; and distinguish a hoax or misrepresentation. It may be tested by: - **Palaeographical**: the deciphering and dating of historical manuscripts - **Diplomatic**: understands how the document came to be ## Tests Of Authenticity 1. Determine the date of the document to see whether they are anachronistic (a chronological misplacing of persons, events, or customs in regard to each other). - E.g. pencils did not exist before the 16th Century. 2. Determine the author. - E.g. handwriting, signature, seal 3. Anachronistic style. - E.g. idiom, orthography, punctuation 4. Anachronistic reference to events. - E.g. too early, too late, too remote. 5. Provenance or custody. - E.g. determines its genuineness. 6. Semantics - determining the meaning of a text or word. 7. Hermeneutics - (principles of interpretation of ambiguous words). Anachronistic references to events or the dating of a document at a time when the alleged writer could not possibly have been at the place designated (alibi) uncovers fraud). ### Internal Criticism - It determines the credibility or historicity of the facts and relevant particulars contained in the document. It checks the verisimilar of the document or as close as what really happened from a critical examination of best available sources. ## Tests of Credibility 1. Identification of the author. - E.g. to determine his reliability; mental processes, personal attitudes. 2. Determination of the approximate date. - E.g. handwriting, signature, seal. 3. Ability to tell the truth. - E.g. nearness to the event, competence of witness, degree of attention. ## Historical Criticism Methodologies In doing historical criticism, there are five (5) methodologies to follow: - **Source Criticism**: Analyzes and studies the sources used by biblical authors. - **Form Criticism**: It seeks to determine a unit's original form and historical context of the literary tradition. - **Redaction Criticism**: It regards the author of the text as editor of the source materials. - **Tradition Criticism**: It attempts to trace the developmental stages of the oral tradition from its historical emergence to its literary presentation. - **Canonical Criticism**: It focuses its interpretation of the bible on the text of biblical canon. Sigillographers is a historical seal that has been subject of special study of experts. # Module 3 | Historical Criticism 14 ## Application 1. Search and evaluate the authenticity and credibility of the historical data used in supporting the Site of the First Mass. Use the methods of historical criticism in evaluating data. # Module 3 | Historical Criticism 15 # Module 3 | Historical Criticism. 16