Critiques of historical theory often highlight the challenges associated with constructing general theories about history, emphasizing the complexity and uniqueness of historical events. Critics argue that such theories can oversimplify the intricacies of specific contexts, fail to account for the multitude of factors that shape historical outcomes, and may impose present-day values on past societies. Additionally, some historians contend that a strong reliance on theoretical frameworks can lead to a neglect of the empirical evidence, as well as the diverse interpretations and narratives that surround historical phenomena. This debate reflects broader issues in the philosophy of history, questioning whether history should be understood primarily through theoretical lenses or as a collection of distinct, contextualized narratives that resist generalization (White, 1973).
Reference: White, H. (1973). Metahistory: The Historical Imagination in Nineteenth-Century Europe. Johns Hopkins University Press.