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by FooBarBizBazz 1810 days ago
I understand why "psychohistory" would appeal to Asimov fans, but it means something like "history of the mind". Whereas "cliodynamics" means "the study of history as a dynamical system". If you want to say that the way people thought has changed over time -- the kind of thesis Adam Curtis would make -- then "psychohistory" is better. If you want to talk about an ODE model of society -- say, you want to show how rising grain prices caused the Arab Spring -- then "cliodynamics" is better.