With the rapid development of science and technology, our contemporary society changes every day, every minute, every second. We can not help but reflect does it provide any guidance for living today if we look back for the past? I concede that there is nothing the same as for the level of development, however we actually have a lot to learn from the past.
We are quite different from past in that the level of development varies. Thanks to the technology boom, our living standard has been improved with each passing day. The spread of automation emancipated us from arduous works, the fast moving transportation saves us numerous of time, the age of information connects us with the whole world. So we recognize today as new and complex, but what in our mind about the past is traditional and simple. With our hasty generalization about the difference between today and past, we come to the conclusion that study of the past is meaningless to contemporary life.
While the difference does not indicate that we can forget the past. The fact is absolutely opposite, learning about great achievements of the past provides us with inspirations. Great scientist Newton once said and I paraphrase "If I can see a bit further than some others, it is because I am standing on the shoulders of giants." It is the past exploration that give Newton inspirations to continue the study. What's more,the inspirations by retrospecting some countries in Africa made "Father of America" Washington George give up his work as president so as to ensure the unity and democracy of US.
In addition, mistakes of past can teach us how to avoid making repeated mistakes. After the first and second World War, Germans confessed for their mistakes every anniversary day. The mistakes teach them to keep world peace. For those oppressed in the war, they learn from past that develop is everything. They will never forget the invasion and what this has brought to their country and people. That actually is the diving forve of development. By studying the past, not only do we learn how to avoid the mistakes, but also we know the direction of tomorrow.
Studying human history can also help us understand and appreciate the values, morals and ideals of the past cultures. Based on the values and morals in the Analects of Confucious, students can determine their authentic life path and what the priority of a human being. The awareness of cultural evolution helps to formulate ideals for ourselves.
To sum up, the author's statement seems reasonable at first glance, but it is really hard for me to agree on that an understanding of the past provides little guidance. I can not help but on behalf of that the study of the past is meaningful in every respect of our contemporary life.