issue103 历史vs现在，欢迎大家拍砖！

zjuyangUID: 157264

103 The study of history has value only to the extent that it is relevant to our daily lives.

The speaker asserts that studying history is valuable only when it is relevant to our daily lives. I agree with the assertion insofar as with the advancement of science and technology history cannot provide panaceas for living today. However, I disagree with the speaker’s claim that today’s world is so unique that studying history is not instructive.

To begin with, learning about great human achievements of the past provides inspiration. History is replete with examples that stimulate us in the process of growing up. For example, the young Washington confessed bravely after he chopped down the cherry tree. This story tells the following young generations to grow up with integrity. Another case in point is that despite of the pressure imposed by the religious institutions and his beliefs classified as heresy in his age, Socrates promoted his philosophical thought in market, instigating others to retrospect themselves and to eliminate the ignorance. His story prompts people to devote their lives fearlessly to pursuing truth and beliefs. In short, learning about grand accomplishments of the past can help us cope with everyday business of living by encouraging us and lifting our spirits.

In addition, mistakes of the past can teach us as a society how to avoid repeating those mistakes. For example, by learning the disastrous history of World War II, two nations with opposing political and economic interests can reach mutually beneficial agreement by trying to understand the other’s legitimate concerns for its national security , its political sovereignty, the ability of its economy and currency, thus avoiding starting a new war. Besides, in a democratic nation, by understanding the experiences and lessons of the past in-powered government, political leaders should ensure the well-being of people and maximize the interests of the residents.

Admittedly, with the development of science and technology, under some circumstances there are certain problems that we have never met before and history gives us little guidance on them. For example, the cloning technique and computer virus, which we have to cope with on our own without any precedent in history to refer to. Yet, this does not prevent us from making the right choice, since learning history has taught us to perceive and analyze these problems with historical perspective. These problems will certainly be dealt with properly sometime in the future. In short, history cannot pave the way for everything new in our daily lives, but it is not inconsistent with the notion that studying history is of no use insofar as it is relevant to current lives.

In sum, the speaker fails to recognize that in all our activities and decisions, histories can inspire, inform and guide even though they cannot give us immediate solutions to every issues. In the final analysis, history is a part of our development which serves as a source of precedent and prediction.

jorgeUID: 108878

1, 觉得Socrates 这里例子举例的不是很好。和从历史成绩中得到鼓舞好像关系不是很大。
2, 最后一段从未来透视过去为历史。我觉得蛮新颖的，可我一个朋友确说不太好。因为是讨论以前的历史。

楼主的文笔不错。词汇的积累已经很可观了。

zjuyangUID: 157264

你说的对，这段应该是说历史人物的伟大性格对我们的鼓舞作用。
大侠们还有没有其他的意见，欢迎指正。