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ISSUE103: “The study of history has value only to the extent that it is relevant to our daily lives.”
488字,总之就俩字,纠结。
In an pragmatic era of today, it seems difficult for history to escape the fate of being evaluated according to its immediate benefits—those related directly to people’s daily lives. Nevertheless, this utilitarian point of view actually narrows people’s perception of history and its value: apart from the direct reference, the study of history bears more significant role.
The value of history relevant to ordinary life lies in the guidance it offers when confronting obstacles and dilemmas. Though former episode will not repeat in exactly the same form, oftentimes, principles and experience of things, which are deduced through the study of the past, remains unaltered, lending people solutions to seemingly new problems. Precedents are referred to settle interests conflicts between cooperations; experiences are learned to appease the family disputes. Also, the research of the past furnishes people with information that assist them to make decisions. One may not leap into the stock market without cautiously searching for previous information such as balancesheet and dividant of companies. Concrete examples and records always contribute to the choice and the judgement of today.
More significant than the straightway advantage, however, the study of history prepares people to build a macroscopical mindset, which enables them to view things comprehensively. With the increasingly complexity in today’s era and close links between various domains, the ability to grasp question as a whole has become crucial. Politics epitomizes the compound need of history best. To rule the nation effectively, the governor is expected to know well of the past. Only with ample understanding of the traditions on culture, religion, ethnics or even arts, can a politician capture a holistic picture of the country and establish apt policies in maximum favor of the society.
Further, while the study of history enables people to deal with the outer environment, it also plays essential role in pacifying people’s inner world by creating a sense of belonging. People are born within certain community, whose morality, ethics, and culture are recorded and passed down through generations by history. Just like the pedigree solidifies family bond, memories of the past furnish social members the perception and recognition of the community, helping them to merge into the group. If, for example, without the knowledge of the Puritan spirit in May Flower, the War of Independent, the Moving West and the Civil War, one can hardly perceive the American dream, the spirit of freedom, equality and the upward mobility of the United States truly: how can a man feel at home if he knows nothing about the house? History comforts people by reassure the identity of the group they live in.
History is a great treasury. Nevertheless, staring only at its immediat merits relevant to one’s daily life is too utilitarian to see the worth truly. Effective guidances as the past can provide, a comprehensive mindset and the reassured sense of belonging can be more significant in terms of the value of history.
大家不用留情…… |
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