The main benefit of the study of history is to dispel the illusion that people living now are significantly different from people who lived in earlier times.
The study of history can teach people many things. One of these things is that people living today are not significantly different than people living in earlier times.
If the study of history taught that people living today are much different than people living in earlier times, then the study of history would have no immediate application in the present. But, the study of history does have immediate application in the present. If this were not evident from the sheer fact that almost all universities have history majors, then one ought to consider that popular culture continually references historical happenings of long past and almost all major cities in the world have historical monuments, museums and tours. So, since the study of history obviously does have immediately application in the present, it must be the case that the study of history does not teach that people living today are much different than people living in earlier times. And if that is not the case, then what does history teach that lends to its beneficial application? It is the opinion of this author that history teaches us that people living today are not so different than people living in earlier times. By focusing on the common denominator of people across times, history allows students the opportunity to dispel the myth of separation between historical epochs, and cultures, and idealize toward progress, building on humanities rich past and bridging this generation to the next generation. End argument. Bitch.
No comments:
Post a Comment