| Page | |
|---|---|
| CHAPTER VII | |
| THE NEGATIVE INTERNAL CRITICISM OF THE GOOD FAITH AND ACCURACY OF AUTHORS | |
| Natural tendency to trust documents—Criticism originally due to contradictions—The rule of methodical doubt—Defective modes of criticism | 155 |
| Documents to be analysed, and the irreducible elements criticised separately | 159 |
| The "accent of sincerity"—No trust to be placed in impressions produced by the form of statements | 161 |
| Criticism examines the conditions affecting (1) the composition of the document as a whole; (2) the making of each particular statement—In both cases using a previously made list of possible reasons for distrust or confidence | 162 |
| Reasons for doubting good faith: (1) the author's interest; (2) the force of circumstances, official reports; (3) sympathy and antipathy; (4) vanity; (5) deference to public opinion; (6) literary distortion | 166 |
Table of Contents
CH. V. LANGLOIS & CH. SEIGNOBOS
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