Historians often work through tactical and strategic choices from the decision-maker's perspective. The method requires remembering the evidence, resources, information, and institutional limits available at the time. Trying possible choices from inside those constraints can reveal why an action appeared reasonable or attractive. It does not require endorsing the decision or ignoring its consequences. This is the counterfactual method used throughout the hybrid-carrier discussion.
Notable Point · 2:49:21-2:49:53
Historical analysis works through choices inside their constraints
Reconstructing a decision-maker's position helps historians understand why a choice appeared plausible without abandoning evidence or hindsight about its limits.