issue120 【FF小组】by duyuan3377 第五次模考

duyuan3377UID: 2415765

TOPIC: ISSUE120 - "So much is new and complex today that looking back for an understanding of the past provides little guidance for living in the present."
WORDS: 579          TIME: 00:40:08          DATE: 2008-12-10 9:19:54

The author asserts that problems we are faced with today are so new and complex that looking back for an understanding of the past provides little guidance for living in the present. In my opinion, it is true that our forerunners have never seen such complex problems before but it does not mean looking back into history is completely useless. I believe we can still get a lot from the understanding of the past not only at the individual level but also at the national level.

Admittedly, during past decades we have seen so many changes and advances at an ever-greater speed that no any experience at past can serve as a panacea for any problems. With the development of science, technology and industry, a great deal of new things have appeared and made our daily lifestyle and the way of thinking different from those of the past. At the same time the new things have brought about some problems, never existing before. For example, how can we turn to history for the moral risks we face posed by cloning, if in retrospect no such a technology ever existed in the past times? And, how can we find answers about solving the psychological problems springing from increasingly fast living pace since in ancient times no one would have  imagined live in such a fast pace? As to these problems, I cannot deny that the previous experience provides little guidance.

However, at the individual level, most people can find the values of looking back for an understanding of the past. By studying history in daily life we are really provided with inspirations and insight to guide our daily life. When we study history, we put ourselves into different characters and situations to test our own intellect and to learn encourage, diligence and ethics. Besides, most people who be attracted by two reasons: one is the attractive tales and myths which appeal to us a lot; the other is that history serves to encourage and teach us. For instance, by learning the lifetime of Edison, we gain courage and persistence from his attitude towards failure; by learning the experience of Martin Luther King, we understand the lofty pursuit for democratic society. From this point of view, history inspires us with vivid examples which are valuable for all human beings to share and learn. So it is effective to solve personal problems today by retrospecting the past.

For another point, at the level of nation, an understanding of the past and history serves us from a broader view which may be not directly associated with our daily life. History improves and guides the whole society and nation by precious experiences. The past of a nation, which tells the national stories and emphasizes distinctive features of the national experience, is helpful to reach an understanding of national values and a commitment to national loyalty. From this point of view, looking back for an understanding of the past of a nation plays an important role to solve national problems and improve the nation.

In summary, history is like a mirror, telling us where we are from and where we are going to. Our individual persons can benefit from looking back into history. At the same time, our public official, as an effective society leader, is also required to understand the past. Although it is unable to solve new and complex problems directly, yet it provides us a foundation and a guide to confront them.