Is History the sum of accidental or conspiratorial events?

Question

A result of hopeless bumbling or meticulous contingency planning?

Answer 1

History is a philosophy derived from example i think

Answer 2

Neither. You cant look at history as important people and important events.

History is a series of layers and undercurrents - things going on behind the scenes that influences kings, presidents and prime ministers.

For example, when looking at why the Russian Revolution happened. You just cant look at an angry mob and the first world war resentment as the overthrow of Tsar Nicholas II.

You have to go way back - look at the rise of a middle class in Russia, look at the failure of Alexander II reforms to free the serfs, look at the rise of a working class proletariat moving from the farms and getting work in the factories.

There are so many factors that make up historical events. To place focus on just the big people and the big events is a complete misunderstanding what history is all about.

Its the little people like you and me that make history happen behind the scenes.

Answer 3

You have confused your terms. Try hopeless contingency planning plus meticulous bumbling. That makes the summing much more accurate.

Answer 4

hopeless bumbling in terms of decisons made that went south (custers last stand etc)

meticulous planning in the manner its written - (custer was a hero!)

ie - both

Answer 5

A mixture of both I would have thought - even planning has to take account of contingency.

Answer 6

Well, not everything is a conspiracy, because not everything was decided by a committee. In a war for instance you may have a combination of the two, you plan what you have to do, but the enemy may change those plans.

Answer 7

I'd have to go with both.

Perfect example is the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand, which precipitated World War One.

The assassin had missed his target, got to the route too late and he had passed by. But, on his way home, he stumbled across his target, who had gotten lost and stopped to ask directions.

Planning, aided by accident.

Answer 8

I would have thought it was both...conception is mostly by accident, so if Hitler's parents hadn't had sex that particular time then Hitler wouldn't have been born, and WWII would not have happened...but maybe his parents conspired to conceive in order that they could have a child so that they could be together....who knows!

Answer 9

History is only as true, as the beliefs of the people who wrote it.

Answer 10

History is philosophy derived from example.