After yesterday's post about the politics of academics, I come across this reference today in a letter from former prime minister Arthur Meighen to Eugene Forsey. The two had been decrying the way academics in the 1950s focused so much on objectivity and being 'unpartisan' (Meighen's word). Meighen writes:
'That word "objective" also is run to death, and many a pursuer has lost his breath in chasing it.'
You likely couldn't say the same now. Standards of "history" do change.
Personally I still see the usefulness of the term, though I find myself heading in its direction at a comfortable jog rather than an all out sprint.
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