The Importance of studying History

[BettyO]

Recently at work, I have been somewhat ridiculed for having a "history degree" and studying history. I've been told by my "superiors" (if you want to call them that!) that my degree in history is meaningless and irrelevant since it does not fall within the "hard sciences"; i.e. engineering, math, etc. Irrelevant, huh? Really? I especially like what I found on this wonderful UK site - quoting historian Patrica Corfield.... (here is the URL: http://www.history.ac.uk/makinghistory/r...ters.html) Irregardless of what my coworkers think - history DOES matter - very much!

See if you agree!

Historians are often asked: what is the use or relevance of studying History (the capital letter signaling the academic field of study)? Why on earth does it matter what happened long ago? The answer is that History is inescapable. It studies the past and the legacies of the past in the present. Far from being a 'dead' subject, it connects things through time and encourages its students to take a long view of such connections.

All people and peoples are living histories. To take a few obvious examples: communities speak languages that are inherited from the past. They live in societies with complex cultures, traditions and religions that have not been created on the spur of the moment. People use technologies that they have not themselves invented. And each individual is born with a personal variant of an inherited genetic template, known as the genome, which has evolved during the entire life-span of the human species.

So understanding the linkages between past and present is absolutely basic for a good understanding of the condition of being human. That, in a nutshell, is why History matters. It is not just 'useful', it is essential.

[Jim Page]

Betty, that those folks who made those comments are silly is beyond question. Having worked a lot with engineers, I can attest that many have developed tunnel vision. At one place I worked, I was told that, "if you ain't an engineer, you ain't sh . .!" Well, I disagree.

That being said, a lot of engineers who I'm still buddies with do not have that tunnel vision.

What I think is useful about studying history is the guidance one receives on how keen minds of the past approached solving their problems. The factors in those problems may be different, but the approaches are still valid. Also, it seems to me that a knowledge of history is the only way to reliably predict the future. People may change, but behavior patterns are surprisingly consistent.

Harry Truman wrote a lot on this subject and he was an extremely wise man.

--Jim

[Gene C]

(10-07-2015 11:19 AM)BettyO Wrote:  So understanding the linkages between past and present is absolutely basic for a good understanding of the condition of being human. That, in a nutshell, is why History matters. It is not just 'useful', it is essential.

It's no surprise your co-workers would have such a limited understanding, it's nothing new. Evidently they have never read Ecclesiastes 1:9.
"What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun."

Know the past and you can understand the present, and anticipate the future.
They ought to read the entire book, if that isn't to taxing of a subject.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?se...ersion=NIV

Learning history is a biblical principle.
The abbreviated teaching of the book, It is meaningless to pursue other avenues of personal satisfaction over a relationship with God.
Ecclesiastes Chpt 12
That hasn't changed over time.

---

[L Verge]

(10-07-2015 11:19 AM)BettyO Wrote:  Recently at work, I have been somewhat ridiculed for having a "history degree" and studying history. I've been told by my "superiors" (if you want to call them that!) that my degree in history is meaningless and irrelevant since it does not fall within the "hard sciences"; i.e. engineering, math, etc. Irrelevant, huh? Really? I especially like what I found on this wonderful UK site - quoting historian Patrica Corfield.... (here is the URL: http://www.history.ac.uk/makinghistory/r...ters.html) Irregardless of what my coworkers think - history DOES matter - very much!

See if you agree!

Historians are often asked: what is the use or relevance of studying History (the capital letter signaling the academic field of study)? Why on earth does it matter what happened long ago? The answer is that History is inescapable. It studies the past and the legacies of the past in the present. Far from being a 'dead' subject, it connects things through time and encourages its students to take a long view of such connections.

All people and peoples are living histories. To take a few obvious examples: communities speak languages that are inherited from the past. They live in societies with complex cultures, traditions and religions that have not been created on the spur of the moment. People use technologies that they have not themselves invented. And each individual is born with a personal variant of an inherited genetic template, known as the genome, which has evolved during the entire life-span of the human species.

So understanding the linkages between past and present is absolutely basic for a good understanding of the condition of being human. That, in a nutshell, is why History matters. It is not just 'useful', it is essential.

Betty - I'd love to read the full article, but that link is telling me that the page cannot be found. Help!

[BettyO]

Here is the Correct link! Sorry folks -

http://www.history.ac.uk/makinghistory/r...tters.html

[LincolnMan]

History: immensely important, sadly neglected, certainly being repeated...

[HerbS]

The study of HISTORY is the-key to the past and the door to the future!

[Gene C]

This past week I had the privilege to meet and talk with Col. Vince Masters, who is 96 years old, and flew 28 bombing missions during World War 2. On one mission, his plane was damaged, they ran out of fuel and had to land the plane in the Atlantic during weather so bad a rescue boat had to wait till the following day to look for them. They were barely able to get out of the plane and into the inflatable life boat (that they had to pump up while they were in the ocean), and had to spend the night in the life raft during the storm. Not all the crew survived. He continued to serve during the war as a fighter pilot and fly escort planes after the required number of bombing missions had been flown.

As we sat around his dining table with his photo albums he shared his experiences with us. His memory was quite clear after 70 years, and he enjoyed sharing his experiences with a small group of 5 people who were interested and knew a little about what he had been through. It was an honor to meet and spend a little over an hour with him.

While you are still able, record some of your life experiences for your children, grandchildren and future generations. They will be interested in what life was like before cell phones, laptop computers, email and big screen tv. What was school like when you were in 3rd grade. Who was the first person you voted for. What were your favorite TV shows. How did you and your spouse meet? It's all a part of history to them.

[RJNorton]

Thanks for sharing, Gene. What an honor to meet Col. Masters.

[PaigeBooth]

What a wonderful experience that must have been, Gene!
My fascination with FDR has led me to learn more about WWII.
It is, no doubt, the men who served our country during this war who deserve our greatest thanks!

Thanks for sharing your story!