Convince Me That Genealogy Is A Science

[JacobSmith]

Convince Me That Genealogy Is A Science

Donald Lines Jacobus, MA, FASG of New Haven, Connecticut,
wrote an article in The American Genealogist, Volume 10, Page 65
(October 1933), entitled: Is Genealogy An Exact Science?
http://www.progenealogists.com/exactscience.htm
Professional genealogists or family historians use primary
information for direct observation and personal evaluation.

The first item at SCIENTISTS and TEACHERS, concerns
Stephen J Danko's: Applying the Scientific Method. He
believes "that genealogists obtain information by observation
or experimentation - the very definition of how one obtains
information in any empirical science".
http://www.academic-genealogy.com/science.htm#scientists
Nevertheless, my observation in the use of professional skill
to obtain further data, in tracing back family lineages, relies
fundamentally upon record sources that relate to the core
economic foundation documents of individuals and family units.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographic_economics

History is not clearly understood, unless careful consideration
is given to the Industrial Revolution, [a period from the 18th to
the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing,
mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect
on the socioeconomic and cultural conditions of the times. It began
in the United Kingdom, then subsequently spread throughout Europe,
North America, and eventually the world. The Industrial Revolution
marks a major turning point in human history; almost every aspect
of daily life was influenced in some way.]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrial_Revolution

Prior to this time, essentially, traditional family economics were
basically connected to kinship-based reciprocity, which kept the
various regional and sectional traditional societies together, from
commanding royalty to the least of souls in the social hierarchy.
Professor William T. O’Hara wrote Centuries of Success.
http://www.amazon.com/William-T.-OHara/e/B001K8B90G
“Before the multinational corporation, there was family business.
Before the Industrial Revolution, there was family business.
Before the enlightenment of Greece and the empire of Rome,
there was family business.”
http://www.griequity.com/resources/industryandissues/familybusiness/oldestinworld.html

Adam Smith wrote, at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Smith
"It is not from the benevolence of the butcher,
the brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner,
but from their regard to their own interest."

In other words, from a genealogical standpoint, this would be
regarded as essentially connected to kinship-based reciprocity
of the butcher's kin, the brewer's kin or the baker's kin; then,
later modified into the more independent "Economic Man"
or lately, "Economic Woman", modern connections outside
the family unit that are more prevalent to personal interests.
http://www.jstor.org/pss/3083230

It is impossible to search for records appropriately, unless
proper consideration is given to each family unit, as they
relate over time, to this new social order, based on major
industrial change. Thus I have clearly stated heretofore,
the essential need for extrapolating trends into the past,
as a function of conditions, characteristics and data
records, endogenous to current variables in family
performance. The scientific method may be used
to specifically evaluate the credibility of variously
layered record sources over time, using stringent
standards of professional evaluation; nevertheless,
the accumulating direction is in my mind, a basic
process of economic projection methodology, if
done properly, using present data to "forecast"; i.e.,
to find past data points on an individual's pedigree.

Again, this "genealogical perspective" is a scientific
method of looking to the past, by using a "reverse"
process of economic projection methodology; i.e.,
[an absent or imagined person (prior to genealogical
confirmation from primary source documentation) is
figured forth -- the "face created" as the Greek suggests
-- in words, as if present (after the pedigree is established
according to the current genealogical proof standard).]
http://www.academic-genealogy.com/academiceducationlearningresources.htm

Respectfully yours,

V. Chris & Tom Tinney, Sr.
http://www.academic-genealogy.com/