issue 48 myth 第三次 ppmmss

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48"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."


Does the study of history places too much emphasis on individuals? The speaker claims so, for the reason that most significant events and trends in history were made possible not by the only individual, but by groups of people. However, I disagree with this assertion. In the long history, the single person usually contributes much more to the progress and evolution of science, culture and social revolutions. In other words, it is great people who push the whole history of human beings.

In the era of science and technology, great discovery and breakthrough relies on, in most of cases, the momentary of creation flash which leads to the inevitable and avoidable change. Only a little thing can inspire these scientists. An apple brings Universal Gravitation by Newton. Clearly, this principle is the creation of Newton himself not the group of research and study team he leads. Not Einstein, one of the most outstanding scientists throughout the whole twentieth century, devote his marvelous mathematical talent to the sphere of modern physics, we would still live in the three-dimensional world not have the awareness of crossing and conflicting between the time dimension and the traditional three-dimensional. Without this outstanding personal talent, we may be fooled and live in a comparatively different and lagging world. Therefore, this is no where more true on the assertion that these milestones in science and technology are the result of individual.

Not only the science and technology realm possesses this phenomenon, the culture and art fields also follow the same rule. All of the artistic and literary works are produced by combination individual gift and endeavor. It would be presumptuous to deny the work of “Mona Lisa” is not the fantastic outcome of Vinci himself. Such cultural and art treasures come from the great masters, who unearth the unknown area with their special techniques and respective angles to the others. This little unique leads to the leave of work forever. Although some grand frescos or remarkable architectures are not achieved by only person, the general design and layout is not harvest of group people. This is the reason why Michelangelo or Bei yuming, these famous architectures are best-known, while nobody would remember the builders or workers. This phenomenon is in proportion of their value. Consequently, the artist is the only person who can not be replacement in history.

Admittedly, no matter hero or notorious crazy, obviously, is not the only role in the social confliction and revolution. Nevertheless, important decisions and large events are eventually determined by the only person. Whatever else may be said, most of people share the brief that merely suggestion and advice can be transferred to the final decision maker, in most of cases, which may have little influence. Both Napoleon and Hitler launched series of war, neither assistants nor opposers changed their minds. Background, standpoint and character push them to these terrible fights. Group of people carried out detail performance, which might not inflect the direction of whole events. Whereas a little fluctuation in the mind of these historic individuals would shift the trends and towards of history. Accordingly, it is famous few that change the world in social activities.

To sum up, famous few are worthy of remembered and paid attention for their inevitable and unshakable contribution and value to all realms, in science and technology, culture and art and social evolutions. However, we should neglect the effect of the common people, and only in this way can we realize history properly and effectively.

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