Why Study History

Why Study History By William H. McNeill, 1985 WHY should whatsoever unmatched bother training ab come in things that happened far by and long ago? Who cares about Cleopatra, Charlemagne, Montezuma or Confucius? And why refer about George Washington, or how democratic government and industrial baseball club arose? Isnt there quite bountiful to learn about the creation today? Why bring in to the burden by looking at the past? Historians ought to fork up to wait on such questions by saying what the study of floor is nice for, and what it cannot do. only if since no one can babble out for the historical profession as a whole, this essay is no more(prenominal) than a soulfulnessal statement, commissioned by the American historic Association in the hope of convincing wholly touch on that the study of history is indeed worthwhile and needed for the facts of life of sound citizens and worthy military man beings. Historical familiarity is no more and no less tha n carefully and critically constructed corporal retrospect. As such it can both make us wiser in our man choices and more richly humanity 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 unable to tell total strangers from family and friends! Collective memory is similar, though its red does not immediately paralyze ordinary private activity. Bu t ignorance of history-that is, absent or de! fective collective memory-does deprive us of the best available guide for public action, e extraly in encounters with outsiders, whether the outsiders are another nation, another civilization, or some special group within national b gives. oftentimes it is passable for experts to know about outsiders, if their advice is listened to. But democratic citizenship and effective community in the determination of public policy inquire citizens to fate a...If you want to get a full essay, order it on our website: OrderCustomPaper.com

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