Issue36 【Aspire 小组】

iamstoicUID: 2294314

36"The greatness of individuals can be decided only by those who live after them, not by their contemporaries."

The speaker alleges that those who live after them, rather than their contemporaries, determine the greatness of individuals. I concede that it is after an individual died that his/her prominence is decided in some cases. However, I contend that in other cases those who are living in the same period can settle on the greatness of individuals.

Admittedly, under some circumstances it is unlikely to judge the greatness of individuals due to limiting factors of that time.Galileo Galilei , who lived from 1564 to 1642, was the first person to turn a telescope to the sky and observed that the earth revolved around the sun. Up to that time, the geocentric or earth-centered scheme as proposed by Aristotle was strongly entrenched in the doctrines of the Catholic Church; therefore, Galileo’s views were so radical that he was tried by the Inquisition and forced to spend the last eight years of his life under house arrest. Those, who live after Galileo and possess advanced instruments and apparatus, can provide sufficient evidence to bolster Galileo’s heliocentric theory. However, can we blame those who observed and failed to see what Galileo saw with the help of a telescope at the limit of its powers at that time?

Furthermore, posterity will judge the greatness, which has become historical records, judicially with respect to all subjects whatsoever. The contemporary comments are inevitably associated with some prejudice and personal interests of individuals of the time. Nevertheless, when it comes to history, the comment is made afterwards when the conflict, if any, is over and combatants are already in their graves. The descendants can hear all sides and all persons and be fair to all. Hence, those who live after the individuals with greatness would arrive at an objective statement that may not be attained contemporarily should some conflicts occur.

Aside from that, however, I fundamentally disagree with the speaker’s claim. Every year the Nobel Prize which is widely regarded as the most distinguished awards is given for intellectual success in the world, which illustrates that the greatness of individuals can be evaluated by their contemporaries. James Watt’s contribution was also readily recognizable for the steam engine was affordable for the masses at that point and had made Britain entered upon the greatest revolution in all history. For that reason Watt was elected the fellow of the Royal Society of London and later became a very wealthy man.

In sum, the speaker fails to recognize that some individuals are considered great by their contemporaries., yet other preeminent achievements cannot be tested and identified without the historical perspectives.

[ 本帖最后由 iamstoic 于 2007-2-12 23:01 编辑 ]