Note: This is a provisional (unofficial) English translation of the Japanese announcement published on our Japanese site. The Japanese original takes precedence. The translation may be revised without notice.
Paper Published in La Généalogie Vol. 1, No. 9
A paper by Yuya Kinoshita, Director of our Institute, titled "A Preliminary Study on the Theoretical Framework for Genealogical Science (9): General Principles of Methodology (1), Introduction," has been published in La Généalogie (Keizu-Keifu Ronkyu), Volume 1, Number 9.
Abstract
In constructing the methodological system of Genealogical Science, this paper discusses according to what criteria methodologies should be formulated and adopted (requirements for methodology and principles of construction), and examines whether the methodologies of traditional genealogy, or of history and documentary studies, can be adopted for Genealogical Science.
As the criteria for adopting methodology, it establishes three requirements: ① general, abstract, and symbolized theoretical character that is versatile and systematic; ② reviewability of validity by third parties; and ③ substantive relevance between the academic or disciplinary purpose and the means. It further distinguishes mandatory methodologies, which require uniform compliance in all studies, from optional methodologies that researchers may select according to their purpose. As the principle of construction, while observing the reviewability principle, refinement principle, anti-authoritarianism, and egalitarianism prescribed in the supreme norms, it adopts, as a second-best measure, the technique of applying or transplanting established models from other fields.
As to the adoption of the methodologies of traditional genealogy and the like, it examines them from the aspects of inferential structure theory or theory of proof, argumentative structure, writing methods, collection and analysis of research materials, and intelligence-style thinking. Regarding inferential structure theory, it demonstrates, by comparison with the theory of proof in legal studies, that traditional genealogy and related fields lack any definition of the term “supplementary evidence” (bōshō), lack an explicit definition of the term “historical material” (shiryō), and fundamentally lack concepts such as facts to be proven, purpose of evidence, the functional classification of evidence (direct, indirect, and auxiliary evidence), empirical rules, and rules of logic. It also points out that in historiography the problematization of the linguistic turn was delayed until after the 1970s, whereas the hearsay rule in law had been forming since the latter half of the seventeenth century, and that this delay could have been avoided had the latter been consulted. Furthermore, the disciplinary purpose of history is not to discover, elucidate, and establish past facts; by historians’ own self-understanding it is the researcher’s self-satisfaction, and in substance it is the assignment of significance to a part of past events. The degree of demand for fact-finding differs from that of Genealogical Science to a degree that cannot be overlooked, which also constitutes a ground for non-adoption. As to argumentative structure, no methodological treatise exists and awareness of basic argumentative structure is lacking; as to the collection and analysis of research materials, they almost fail to satisfy the reviewability requirement and the substantive relevance requirement.
Through the above examination, Genealogical Science cannot basically adopt the methodologies of traditional genealogy and the like, and a new methodology must be constructed.
Publication Details
- Title: A Preliminary Study on the Theoretical Framework for Genealogical Science (9): General Principles of Methodology (1), Introduction
- Author: Yuya Kinoshita
- Journal: La Généalogie (Keizu-Keifu Ronkyu), Vol. 1, No. 9
- Publisher: Family Research Council (Kakenkyou)
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.69352/keiron.1.9_1
Access
The full text (in Japanese) is freely available at:
- J-STAGE: https://doi.org/10.69352/keiron.1.9_1
- Family Research Council: https://www.kakenkyou.org/keiron1-9/
Keywords
Genealogical Science, methodology, reviewability, inferential structure theory, theory of proof, facts to be proven, purpose of evidence, supplementary evidence, historical materials, source criticism, hearsay rule, linguistic turn, argumentative structure, mandatory methodology, optional methodology, history, traditional genealogy, academic design, substantive relevance
