phenix写作小组组员2号第三次i作业

wu-intrepidUID: 2659758

TOPIC: ISSUE48 - "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."

In historic river, numerous excellent individuals were born. They, by their own talent, change the progress of history, and lead people go to the rode of hope and civilization. It is amazing and adored that great brilliance of intelligent and heroic spirits within them. Therefore, people would like to treat them as savors or unable heroes. Under their brilliance, each general people become tiny and dim one. And it seems hard to see that historic cogs turning forward related to their contribution.


The great individuals' achievements to promote the progress of history are obvious. However, their successes depend on the masses' supporting and assisting. Roosevelt and Churchill, for examples, both are famous for their efforts of against the Fascist and struggle for peace in the Word War. Yet, they cannot beat opposite militarily and win the war all by themselves. It is groups of general soldiers who won the battles. It is groups of general people who joined the army. Thus, it is united force of people, preventing the word from governing by fascism. Only depending on brilliant individuals, just like a military with officers only, is hard to succeed.

Then how about a military is no officers? The answer is clear. Despite strong force of people, they cannot provide some creative and progressive theories or suggestion, which may point the direction that history should turn to. Such as Hamilton, a Secretary of the America Treasury, participate in drafting and popularizing constitution, which is used to now and make America become a most democratic country.
Any single or group general people cannot replace Hamilton to accomplish this creative program, due to lack of advanced idea and exceptional ability.

Further, the public are the main body of history, and the individuals are the weathervane of history. Because the individual point the director, and people choose whether should go in this one.
Though it need people to make choice, when individuals put their idea forward. Because most general people are not so thoughtful and rational, they may be not able to understand well. Whereas, even if people do not accept or support the advanced theories, the individuals still can influent historic trend, but be delayed. As long as the ideas of the individuals are surly of great influence, it can be come true in the future. Socrates' philosophy idea, for instance, was not accepted by the general, and he was sentenced to death. However, later, many his idea about education, politics, etc... are thought be useful. And he started a trend of rationalism. Thus, we can infer the public may choose right or wrong options, may rightly support Roosevelt and Churchill to combat fiscism, or kill Socrates to prevent the spread of his philosophy idea. However, brilliance of individuals can not be resisted, it will be influence history sooner or later.

As I try to unravel whether individuals or the masses play more essential role in history, I think it is instructive to consider the meaning of researching history. Studying history is to represent it in the present era and pass on the sprites. For the first intention, we should concern the masses, who are the main body make life like today, as mentioned above.
And for the later, which is the significant value of researching, we should pay attention to individuals. Since this sprits are not only useful in past, but also function in now and future. For instance, it is benefit to read classics of Socrates still, but people, who criticizing and judging him , offer nothing valuable to us now.


Thus, whatever heroes or the general public, affect the proceeding of history. We should distinguish their effect in different aspects, and consider the intention of researching history. Then we can make judgment.