Is history pointless?

[Three_dog]

History is almost always affected by who is telling it. So how can we know what really happened. In fact, why does it really mattered what actually happened (fact) v.s. our perception of recorded history ? I'd like thoughts on this.

[kennethamy]

Originally Posted by Three_dog

History is almost always affected by who is telling it. So how can we know what really happened. In fact, why does it really mattered what actually happened (fact) v.s. our perception of recorded history ? I'd like thoughts on this.

Well, according to the history of World War 1, Germany invaded Belgium. I have never heard anyone say that Belgium invaded Germany. Not even the Germans. So, I think we know what happened in this case. Don't you?

It matters for a number of reasons, but one of them is knowing the truth.

[jeeprs]

History, as the saying goes, is written by the victors. So they provide one perspective. It might look quite different from the perspective of those who were over-run or whose cultures were dispersed. But we often don't hear from them. I guess there are indisputable facts on the large scale that are not subject to any dispute, but there are many minor aspects of the narrative of history that can be told from a variety of viewpoints.

All that said, it still might be possible, and desirable, to arrive at an account of 'what really happened' by analysing the information you have from a number of viewpoints. I think that is very much the task of the historian.

[kennethamy]

Originally Posted by jeeprs

History, as the saying goes, is written by the victors. So they provide one perspective. It might look quite different from the perspective of those who were over-run or whose cultures were dispersed. But we often don't hear from them. I guess there are indisputable facts on the large scale that are not subject to any dispute, but there are many minor aspects of the narrative of history that can be told from a variety of viewpoints.

All that said, it still might be possible, and desirable, to arrive at an account of 'what really happened' by analysing the information you have from a number of viewpoints. I think that is very much the task of the historian.

But not only by the victors. The Germans have written many histories of the two World Wars. And, from their point of view. That is one of those sayings that takes hold, although it is clearly not true. (I suppose it sounds critical and revisionist, so people love repeating it). Of course there can be (and are) many viewpoints. But that does not mean all of them are true, nor even plausible. In fact, Hitler gave an account of why Germany lost the first War. And that was, 1. A history written by the vanquished, and 2. False.

[jgweed]

To make all history exclusively depend upon perspective is to ignore that part of history written as a "science" following rules and procedures established to attempt to make history as objectively as humanly possible. Beginning around the time of Ranke, historiography as an academic discipline has attempted to define such a methodology; modern writers of history, moreover, are cognizant that perspectives can influence interpretations, and consequently are more careful to consider this possibility in their own works. Lastly, historical interpretations, and the validity of the data supporting them, are subject to peer scrutiny and debate as with any scientific hypotheses.

One may debate whether one can learn from history either as a person or as a society, but it seems important for an individual to understand how the world in which he lives came to be. Adding this perspectival layer to one's life and one's thinking enlarges it, provides heroes and villians, and a temporal grounding for understanding one's situation.

[Khethil]

We talked about this at length in this thread.

My view on the issue (which is a good one, for sure), I put down in this post.

Thanks

[Caroline]

To me history is important to learn what went on before to understand things and how they came about, in the present.

[HexHammer]

Heed history to forge future. - HexHammer

History are much much than listen to bragging victors. It's also about economics, sience, psycology ..etc.

We can learn from disasters and see what we should avoid, what they did wrong, what they did right.

Too many disregard our history and makes repeated mistakes, which easily could be avoided.