Is history necessary?

Question

Approach this question as a neutral debate topic. How would you change the question to maximize debate potential.Do you think it is?

On one side we can't really say that there we really learn from our past mistakes. Wars for the same reasons repeat themselves in new different contexts. History is inherently bias (written by the survivors, right?)

Answer 1

It's more then the 'Those that fail to history are doomed to repeat it.' comment.

It is impossible to know who you are as a person, or as a people, without understanding how you got there. By learning history we are create a group consensus, a national identity.

Besides, its important to learn history so that you can understand world events and become a more intelligent voter. For example, why did the US attack Iraq? How did Saddam Hussein become our enemy? Why do the Iranians and the Islamic nations support terrorism and hate Israel and the US? This is all history.

As for history being written by survivors (or victors), history is more then just wars and major national events. One of the most famous quotes about history is Henry Ford's "history is bunk." This quote is taken out of context however. Henry Ford, who created one of America's most incredible historical museums (thehenryford.org), actually said that the way learn history is bunk. We should be learning about the way that the actual people in this nation lived.

Think about this also. When you die, do you want to be remembered? Or do you want to be lost forever with the only sign that you lived being a tombstone in a forgotten cemetery. History allows you to live forever, whether on a world, national, local or family level.

Answer 2

I can't image much debate about this topic. Or at least the debate would be hugely in favor of the side arguing FOR history.

To say we can't learn from our mistakes seems... ridiculous considering individuals, business, organizations and nations have all learned from their past mistakes many, many times.

It's is true that history doesn't MAKE us learn from our mistakes but it is a huge AID in helping us do so. If we can make better sense of something we are more likely to react to it better.

As for biases it is true even to this day that all accounts of almost any kind are biased in one way or another. Personal agendas always interfere. But that doesn't mean we still can't learn from those inaccurate sources. They are still full of stuff that is accurate. It also gives us an insight into what people thought and the agendas and people are biased towards them. There is a HUGE wealth of knowledge in those sources. For example, we know Noah's Ark didn't exist, but the story tells us how people viewed their religion and their diety. Another example are Roman emporers (specifically Julio-Claudians) that have regularly been demonized in literature but now we know that many of those accounts are political propaganda. But we can still know that Tiberius lived on a small island off Italy for the last decade of his reign, but we can never know if he really had small children ("minos") that would run around the estate and nibble at him softly. We know that Nero competed in the Olympic games in Greece, but we can never know if he really kicked his pregnant wife to death.

Answer 3

Some people just never learn from their mistakes. They think they have the better idea and this time it will work because it's so completely different from what they did last time that didn't work. Each war was fought differently. They learned things that they did not repeat each time. They still had wars, they just did it their way. So they thought they had invented the new wheel each time.

Answer 4

nicely of direction. you do no longer think of you will possibly nicely be president of the united states without understanding the founds fathers of our usa and the united states shape do you? nicely hm, i assume no longer bush do no longer understand something.

Answer 5

Ya, Your Right.

Answer 6

I don't know if it's necessary, but it 'happens'.