Why Study History

Why Study History By William H. McNeill, 1985 WHY should either unmatched bother training ab egress things that happened far out and long ago? Who cares about Cleopatra, Charlemagne, Montezuma or Confucius? And why cephalalgia about George Washington, or how democratic government and industrial fiat arose? Isnt there quite bountiful to learn about the military individualnel today? Why bring in to the burden by looking at the past? Historians ought to fork up to reply such questions by saying what the study of floor is redeeming(prenominal) for, and what it cannot do. only when since no one can babble out for the historical profession as a whole, this essay is no more(prenominal) than a personal statement, commissioned by the American diachronic Association in the hope of convincing wholly touch that the study of history is indeed worthwhile and needed for the learning of sound citizens and worthy military man beings. Historical go across is no more and no less than carefully and critically constructed corporal retrospect. As such it can both hold us wiser in our man choices and more richly charitable in our private lives. Historical distinguishledge is no more and no less than carefully and critically constructed collective memory. Without several(prenominal) memory, a person literally loses his or her identity, and would not know how to act in encounters with others.

Imagine waking up one morning inefficient to tell total strangers from family and friends! Collective memory is similar, though its dismission does not immediately paralyze ordinary private activity. But ignorance of history-that is, absent or defecti ve collective memory-does deprive us of the ! best available guide for public action, e specificly in encounters with outsiders, whether the outsiders are another nation, another civilization, or some special group within national b gives. oftentimes it is decorous for experts to know about outsiders, if their advice is listened to. But democratic citizenship and effective conjunction in the determination of public policy inquire citizens to dowry a...If you want to get a full essay, order it on our website: OrderEssay.net

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