Whiggishness

Near-synonym: presentism

Two anathemas of academic historians of science have been attracting a certain amount of interest in the history of science blogo-twittersphere lately. One is whiggishness and the other heroes, the two of which often come together in history writing and broadcasting aimed at a broad audience.

But Grayling’s enthusiasm and conviction should not be confused with naive whiggishness. He does believe that through science and learning we have made progress, but he does not think the march forwards is inevitable or that our gains are irreversible.