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Barbara J. Shapiro
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A Culture of Fact: England, 1550–1720

by Barbara J. Shapiro (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 8 ratings
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Barbara J. Shapiro traces the surprising genesis of the "fact," a modern concept that, she convincingly demonstrates, originated not in natural science but in legal discourse. She follows the concept's evolution and diffusion across a variety of disciplines in early modern England, examining how the emerging "culture of fact" shaped the epistemological assumptions of each intellectual enterprise.

Drawing on an astonishing breadth of research, Shapiro probes the fact's changing identity from an alleged human action to a proven natural or human happening. The crucial first step in this transition occurred in the sixteenth century when English common law established a definition of fact which relied on eyewitnesses and testimony. The concept widened to cover natural as well as human events as a result of developments in news reportage and travel writing. Only then, Shapiro discovers, did scientific philosophy adopt the category "fact." With Francis Bacon advocating more stringent criteria, the witness became a vital component in scientific observation and experimentation. Shapiro also recounts how England's preoccupation with the fact influenced historiography, religion, and literature―which saw the creation of a fact-oriented fictional genre, the novel.

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Previous page
  1. ISBN-10
    0801436869
  2. ISBN-13
    978-0801436864
  3. Publisher
    Cornell University Press
  4. Publication date
    November 17, 1999
  5. Language
    English
  6. Dimensions
    6 x 1.06 x 9 inches
  7. Print length
    284 pages
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Shapiro has written an excellent work in intellectual and cultural history.

― Virginia Quarterly Review

The book is filled with quotes and references to a very wide range of primary as well as secondary sources. It will be of much heuristic value in studying the changing meanings of 'fact' in this period, quite apart from Shapiro's strong argument concerning the special role of the law.

-- Peter Dear, Cornell University ― Journal of the History of the Behavioral Sciences

This nutshell presentation does far from justice to the nuances of the basic argument of the book, still less to the striking nature of the supporting detail... It should be given a hearty welcome as a trenchant and well illustrated contribution to an ongoing debate.

-- Paul Dukes ― Journal of European Studies

Review

Fascinating work... Shapiro admirably achieves her aim, which is to shed light on questions relating to disciplinary development and permeability. She emphasizes the legal origins of 'fact' without overestimating legal influences in the development of other disciplines. She shows how this critical element of our language of empiricism was shaped out of legal practices and how a concept of 'fact' grounded in human acts and testimony became a commonplace of Anglo-American cultural practice.

-- Karen Cunningham, University of California, Los Angeles. Renaissance Quarterly

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Cornell University Press (November 17, 1999)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 284 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0801436869
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0801436864
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 18 years and up
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.3 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.06 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 8 ratings

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Barbara J. Shapiro

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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
8 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

B.D. Daniel
5.0 out of 5 stars Scholarly history
Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2023
Verified Purchase
As a lawyer I liked the focus on the development of epistemological principles and practices in various disciplines out of Anglo-American legal procedures.
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Jerusha
4.0 out of 5 stars Truth or Fact
Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2012
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In today's world where "facts" are where you find them, and anyone can post a "fact" on Wikipedia, this book is a plethora of information and makes one consider exactly what the facts are, might be, could be and how they may not really be factual.. Like a Bill Bryson read, there is more than facts about facts in this book, lots of interesting tidbits surrounding the culture of facts.
2 people found this helpful
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Patricia M.
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book! Shapiro makes her argument both intelligently and ...
Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2015
Verified Purchase
Great book! Shapiro makes her argument both intelligently and concisely (not something many historians actually prize). The book is easy to follow, but also enlightening and always interesting.
4 people found this helpful
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Dr. Heather Stein
4.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful contribution to both the history of epistemology and the English language
Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2016
Verified Purchase
Although at times a little repetitive (as all academic books are), I found this book both enlightening and well-researched. Shapiro does a wonderful job of mapping out how the legal system has influenced our understanding of the world around us... and of the other implications of that relationship.
2 people found this helpful
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