TOPIC: ISSUE120 - "So much is new and complex today that looking back for an understanding of the past provides little guidance for living in the present."
WORDS: 462 TIME: 00:44:44 DATE: 2007-7-27 下午 09:57:55
I strongly disagree with the author's assertion that looking back for an understanding of the past provides little guidance for living in the present as so much is new and complex today. In my viewpoints, it is a times of knowledge explosion when many events unexpected ever are taking place around us. However, the more quickly the human society develop, the more important history play a role in our lives.
First and foremost, when we come into a research field as a greener, it is greatly conducive for us to learn the past knowledge in whatever field of study. Learning history of a major can help us progress better and deeper because we have standed on the giant's shoulder. It is not necessary for us to spend time on proving extant axiom or principle which our predecessors have done. What we ought to do for the first step is to learn the past knowledge by heart and assimilate them as soon as possible. On the second step, we are able to add ourselves idea on it to creat more valuable inventions. Accordingly, historical academician must be acquaint with the past history very much, the same as a student majoy in art or even physical courses, who have to be familiar with their doyens' works or distinguished axiom.
Second, the lessons, which happened in history, remind us not to repeat the same mistake again. History is mirror for us, from which we can not only acquire the successful experience but also avoid made the same mistake. One apt illustration of this point involves the Second World War which actually brought a calamity to the human world and everybody who loves peace in the world must not prefer to take it again. Thus, every year everywhere people will hold a ceremony at a certain time to commemorate people who suffered and died in the war.
In the final analysis, history is not always right especially in the scientific research, thus, we should keep a cool head on the historical perspective because times is changing, the knowledge which is suitable for the past may be not still correct at present. Before we utilizing precedent outcoming, we should also discern whether it can still work out in the current situation. Do not forget without sceptical spirit Einstein would not propose theory of relativity.
In sum, we can get a lot of guidance by understand the past in whatever field, especially for greener. With the help of past knowledge we are able to progress faster and take the successful experience or failing lessons into account, by which we probably make a more valuable accomplishment. Besides, it is also necessary for us to know the function of past is limited which we should not depend on totally unsuspectingly.