34280 Y68 A Brief History of Lawns, Leisure & LOL

Q&@
IF
HISTORY DOESN'T
FOLLOW ANY STABLE RULES,
AND WE CANNOT PREDICT ITS FUTURE COURSE,
WHY STUDY IT?

It often seems
that the chief aim of science is to predict the future -
meteorologists are expected to forecast whether tomorrow will bring rain
or sunshine; economists should know whether devaluing the currency will avert or precipitate an economic crisis;
good doctors foresee whether chemotherapy or radiation therapy will be more successful
in curing lung cancer.

Similarly, historians are asked
to examine the actions of our ancestors so that we can repeat their wise
decisions and avoid their mistakes! But it almost never works like that because the present is just
too different from the past? It is a waste of time to study Hannibal's tactics in the Second Punic
War so as to copy them in the Third World War. What worked wèll in cavalry battles
will not necessarily be of much benefit
in cyber warfare.

Science is not
just about predicting the future, though.
Scholars in all fields often seek to broaden our horizons, thereby opening before us
new & unknown futures. This is especially true of history?!Though historians occasionally try their hand
at prophecy (without notable success), the study of history aims above all to make us aware of possibilities
we don't normally consider. Historians study the past not in order to repeat it,
but in order to be liberated from it!

Each & everyone of us has been born
into a given historical reality, ruled by particular norms & values, and managed
by a unique economic & political system. We take this reality for granted, thinking
it is natural, inevitable & immutable.

We forget that our world was created
by an accidental chain of events, and that history shaped not only our technology,
politics & society, but also our thoughts, fears & dreams!? The cold hand of a past emerges from the grave
of our ancestors, grips us by the neck and directs our gaze towards a single future! We have felt that grip
from the moment we were born, so we assume that it is a natural and inescapable
part of who we are? Therefore we seldom try
to shake ourselves free, and
envision alternative
futures.
29 mrt 2019 - bewerkt op 03 apr 2019 - meld ongepast verhaal
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