[i习作temp] Issue 170/48我的第一次习作 [复制链接]

48. "The study of history places too much emphasis on individuals. The most significant events and trends in history were made possible not by the famous few, but by groups of people whose identities have long been forgotten."

历史研究过于关注个人。历史上最有意义的事件和潮流能够成为可能不是因为几个少数的名人而是一些身份早就被淡忘的人群。

I strongly agree that, instead of by forgettable groups of people, the most significant events and trends in history were made by by few famous people.although those people, being forgotten by history,who had dedicated in their respective fields, could not be ignored, we should ought to remember the few people who had talents and were able to make signifcant contributions to history.

Today the great man theory is out of favour as a singular explanation for why things happen. Historians look at other factor such as the economic, societal, environ

mental, and technological which are just as or more significant to historical change. Many historians believe that a history which only follow around a single person or a small group, especially when their significance is determined primarily by political status, is the shallow view of the past, and sometimes such a view exclude the major group of people from being part of study the history. A broader view is provided by a people's history approach. This critique as spread to other field such as literary criticism,in which Stephen Greenblat's New Historicism argues that societies play roles in creating works of art, not just authors.

Admittedly, the most ordinary people is the major maker of history. Nevertheless, should we remember them just out of our pity? To this question, I consider the answer is NO. Without those few people, who is talent, it entirely possible to weaken contributions of the most people.For example, Roentgen, the Germany physician, was famous for his unexpected discovery of X-rays. I concede that without those scientists who made great contributions to physics, it was impossible for Roentgen to make such an achievement. However, Roentgen had the
talent and was studious enough to make new conclusion on the contributions made by others but other people did. If others could make same conclusion as Rogentgen did at that moment, they would be placed in history rather than being forgotten by us. Although predecessors’ contributions made Roentgen easier success,it was Roentgen to discover X-rays and thus he was famous of it. The famous few such as Roentgen has a great talent in science, and this is why he can be famous till now.

What is more, according to the Pareto principle, for many things, the most important parts are about 20%; though the remaining parts are in majority, about 80%, they are less important. The Great Wall in China is a spectacular construction that attracts the most people all around the world. It was built by thousands of people for several years. Although efforts made by those people who have long been forgotten cannot be neglected, but the thought of the First Emperor of Qin is even irreplaceable. Anyone else who is strong and healthy enough can do the same job, and there was a huge manpower during the decade. However, only the First Emperor of Qin had the power to demand a large number of people to build the Great Wall.

To sum up, although those unknown people are the major makers of the history, it is hard to deny that the key of history is the famous few.