“To remain ignorant of things that happened before you were born is to remain a child.” (Cicero
Many people have asked the timeless question – “Why study history?” It seems to be a valid one, with a solid credibility of its own in today’s world so caught up in the present. What can history offer the medical student, the computer tech, the business major, the lawyer, or any of us, for that matter? The answer is that we should study it, not because it is a guide to the present, but because it is the present. Everything that we see and know has a past, a past important to both now and the future.
Most agree that it is important to study ideas, to study cultures, to study the way we are and why - in fact, to study everything and develop a curiosity for learning and thought. To take these ideas out of their historical context is to deprive them of what they are. To disregard the knowledge of sources is to look at the world in a two-dimensional context. This severely limits our understanding of these ideas. For history is the study of everything – to know history is to know politics, economics, business, human nature, God, religion, places, ideas…life. Otherwise, our civilization and its philosophies will have seemed to have come out of a vacuum.
Moreover, knowledge of where we and all that we know came from enriches our knowledge of who we are. Why do we need to know who we are? So that we can know what we ought to do. What is Torah but the guideline for how to live? The story of history. As Heschel said, what is the Jewish religion but a religion of time, not one of space? Hashem is the God of time. And history consists of time, the foundation of all that we believe in. To reverse Charles Lyell’s popular maxim, the past is the key to the present.
Thirdly, history is an important part of our education. We can learn many lessons from the past, as well as the present. It is a rich source of ideas, arguments and role models for all of us, as well as a wealth of information with which to draw upon in our daily lives. Though stories of great battles and great men may not seem to have anything to do with our menial tasks and mundane worries, they contain principles still applicable to every situation we face, if we can make the connection. And isn’t that what learning is all about – making connections? (In other words, if I had paid better attention to Herodotus, I may have found some comfort for my worries or some solution to my problems - you never know what history can teach you every day!)
6 comments:
Okay, so I'm kinda lost... why did you write two posts contradicting each other??
And I agree with this one, though your questions about the last one were interesting and food for thought. =)
haha, yeah it is an argument between Nego and Propono. Nego always argues against something and Propono argues for something. I thought it would be an interesting way to look at both sides of an issue and see how clearly I could argue for both. I still am not completely sure about the question myself ;)
I think you did a really great job with both aguments. It'll be a good thing to ponder..
jsyk this is not "none" it is Leah. But since I can't figure out yet how to edit it, I am going to go as "none."
Anna, nice job. I agree with what you said and think your argument was convincing and even for someone who is for the nego, it is something to consider. The only thing is that I would appreciate more examples. Maybe that's just me. :)
Thanks for posting.
yes you're right, it probably could have used more stories/real life proof, etc. i have to admit, i was kind of in a hurry ;)
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