Resumen

ANAYA MINJAREZ, Ignacio Emerio. A Past of Possibilities: A History of What Could Have Been. Lo contrafactual: ¿le puede servir a la historia?. Hist. graf [online]. 2024, n.63, pp.286-293.  Epub 21-Jun-2024. ISSN 1405-0927.  https://doi.org/10.48102/hyg.vi63.531.

The text explores the relevance of counterfactual history in the academic field, highlighting its usefulness in historical interpretation. Quentin Deluermoz and Pierre Singaravélou, in their work A Past of Possibilities: A History of What Could Have Been (2016), argue that this approach, far from being mere speculation, offers a moral and political dimension by enabling reflection on what might have been. Counterfactual history is taken as an exercise in imagination and experimentation which is crucial for understanding the past. As exemplified in literature and media, this perspective invites consideration of alternative futures, thus enriching the historical narrative. This orientation challenges the traditional perception of history, emphasizing its contingent nature and broadening the understanding of past events.

Palabras llave : Counterfactual history; Academia; Historical interpretation; Quentin Deluermoz; Pierre Singaravélou; Moral and political dimension; Reflection; Imaginative exercise; Experimentation; Literature; Alternative Futures; Historical Narrative.