Argument Quote by Josephine Quinn
““Mine is not, however, so much an argument from silence as an argument for silence: a silence that can open up other spaces of investigation. I cannot demonstrate that no one in the ancient Mediterranean ever thought of her- or himself as Phoenician, nor will I try to do so. But without positive evidence for such a collective identification, I will insist that we cannot arbitrarily adopt one as our working assumption. We don’t have to plaster over this gap in our knowledge by applying an arbitrary label according to our own taste: we can choose instead to attend to the evidence that we do have and to the stories it tells.””
About This Quote
Source Article: The Classical World, Journal of Ancient Studies, 2023
The quote argues that we should avoid labeling ancient peoples without solid evidence, using silence to explore other research avenues.
In simple terms: Avoid labeling without evidence; use silence to explore.
Key Takeaway
Focus on evidence, not assumptions.
Themes
evidence
methodology
historical identity
research ethics
Mood
analytical
reflective
Type
academic
critical
When to use this quote
- academic research
- museum curation
- educational curricula
- public history
- media reporting
Key Concepts
archaeology
historical methodology
critical thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- What evidence would justify a new label?
- How can silence be productive in scholarship?
A Different Perspective
Labels can oversimplify complex identities and may mislead interpretations.
