Does history have value outside of academics?
Yes
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No
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i agree that history does have value outside of academics because we should know past mistakes to ensure that we don't repeat them. if we look to the future without knowing of the mistakes in the past, we will just mess up again over and over in the same way that our ancestors have. we will never progress forward and we will all be doomed! Side: Yes
True. I completely agree with what you say, but as I said in my earlier post, "History is bound to repeat itself because we pay such little attention to it the first time." and that goes for everyone. Some people more than once, but that is just the fact of the matter. History is important outside of academics, yes, but has no value to the common person. Side: No
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Really? I think war is one of those things the world absolutely learns nothing from. I mean, we're still fighting, so what exactly are we learning? To use a better and bigger gun? To make more disguisable spy planes? To train the military men more efficiently? Wow. But in the end, does it all ever really solve anything? Not in my opinion. Side: No
Knowing the names, dates, and places of past events is utterly useless, unless you really enjoy playing Trivial Pursuit and annoying people at parties. But deep study of history -- retracing, recreating situations and events in your imagination, reconsidering decisions that were made, and how the flow of events may have been influenced as a result -- adds depth, color, and meaning to current events, and can help you better weigh the consequences of decision you make throughout your life. That said, the question of whether history is necessary is very different from whether it has any value outside of academics. The study of history is not for everyone. Just as rigorous daily fitness training is only necessary for professional athletes, not everyone needs to be able to spot patterns, understand how events are related, and be able to apply that to decisions under consideration. But everyone can benefit from a little exercise now and then. Side: Yes
Expanding on your argument here. Well, in history, we learn how people make mistakes. For example, how Hitler played on the feelings of the German public to bring himself into power and bring about the monstrosity that was the German War Machine. We also learn of how childish politics like the Cold War are for naught. When we look at these mistakes and see a similar situation happening/brewing, we would know what has happened, is happening, and what will happen. If everyone took a deeper insight into history, or at least the more significant bits, everyone would be more enlightened and would know when a tyrant is about to take power and can unite to take him down. It also serves as a great source of jokes and for conversation topics. Side: Yes
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History definitely has value outside of academics. It's been said that "those that cannot remember the past are destined to repeat it". It is crucial for us to learn from past mistakes and successes so we can build on those learnings to help us make better decisions. Side: Yes
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I do believe that history have a value outside of academics, because I believe that if someone doesn't know their past they don't know they future. I believe its really necessary to know history, because you wouldn't be able to decide or have option since you wouldn't know what happen in the past with similar things. Side: Yes
We learn from our past, and the past is history, so we need history. Take engineering for example, Engineers want to build a building but they want to try something they think is new. If we didn't have history to show that some things didn't work in the past we would be making the same mistakes over, and over, and over again. So in order to move on with life we have history to show are mistakes so we can improve them, and make the world go round. Side: Yes
History is important because you can compare it to situations of today and have more insight into what is going on. But I do agree with the notion that not a lot of people do study history. Just look at why the revolution happened. They were revolting against a big government with a Central Bank that inflated the money pool while controlling it's political pawns and taxing the colonists senselessly for no adequate reason. And yet we have a central bank today (Federal Reserve) which is a private company that can create money out of thin air. And we have an IRS that collects a tax on income to pay for inflated government spending. Both of which are against the constitution. So Yes, it is important to know history to have a clue what is going on today; History does repeat itself often and is also what came before. How can you fully understand today without knowing how it got that way? However that doesn't mean that people can't get along without learning history but often it is to their own detriment. Especially when red flags start to go off that should alert you; such as preemptive war; torturing; removal of habeas corpus etc. Side: Yes
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I can't believe this is even up for debate and that some people are saying no! If you don't remember what you did yesterday, last week, last month or last year, how are you ever supposed to improve or get better at anything? How will you know if you have made this mistake already? Over time you learn and going forward you apply the lessons from your history! Imagine if we had no personal history? We'd be messed up like that guy in Memento! (very good movie by the way - check it out) Society is no different, if we can't remember electing some idiot who ruined our economy and got us into a deadly expensive, totally unnecessary war 8 years ago, we are doomed to reelect someone similar! As a society we need to know what happened in the past so we can avoid making similar mistake in the future! Also, there is a history to every subject: Computer Science, Political Science, Chemistry, Physics, Literature, Economics, etc. Knowing how we got to whatever point in our fields helps give us the perspective wee need to push it forward. Side: Yes
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History is not trivia. History is more than just dates and people. When you learn from your own mistakes, do you think "on March 25th, 2005, at a fast food restaurant in South Dakota, I tried to eat a bean burrito without a napkin, and it was messy." or do you think, "This has been tried before, let's not do that again"? Side: Yes
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History is valuable because we can learn what we did in the past and change the future. For example Martin Luther King Jr make a huge impact for all races back then during the speech for letting all the people freedom and equal rights and then now everybody have equal rights and respect each other race. With out history there would be any history in life. Side: Yes
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I believe it does, I mean, if it weren't for history in general, cause and effects of it especially, we wouldn't be who and where we are today. I know I wouldn't think the same. I appreciate all that has been done to get us here today. (besides littering, global warming, etc.) Each landmark makes a difference. So yes, I do believe it does. Side: Yes
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Learning history helps us not only because "those who dont know it are destined to repeat it" but it also helps us develop leadership skills and military tactic. George Washington studied the roman empire's history and applied it as a framework for our country, and he looked to their leaders to learn how to govern the US. Side: Yes
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Yes! Firstival, if there's no history, people of your next generation will forgot the event that had happened in the past. Second, people thought history is something that happened in the past is not important cause it already past, but the thats WRONG, it might affect your future jobs. Sometimes HISTORY REPEATS which means you must know what happened in the past so you can be prepare. Its good to know an event war in the past because we don't want to do the same mistake that had happened before. Side: Yes
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Well first of all, i think that history has value. What would life be without history?? What events would be interesting in?? Like humas we need to know what had happened in the past so thats why we need to know about history. Out in the real world is good if you can tell your family about past events in history for example your childres and grandchildren. History cannot just be used at school to get a grade and can be use to have great moments remembering what had happened in the past. Side: Yes
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I think history is important because you can learn from your own mistakes and learn from what you do. Then why do we have history for? We have it because its for the past, the present and the future. History is very important with out history we wouldn't know about our president we had in the past or the important things from history. Side: Yes
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Yes i believe history has value outside of academics because histrol not only shows the sucesses we had but many i believe it teaches us our failures and that we need to learn from it or try something else and many times we look back in history see what we did wrong and then we deciede what is right an example is slavery and how if we look in history we learn that human inslavement is a inhumane thing so we learn from it and try to prevent slavery in other countries now and that example why history is important Side: Yes
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History has a great value outside of academics. We use history in our everyday routine. History helps us defend ourselves in an argument =]. For example when we fight with our parents and you tell them remember, Einstein didn't go past 4th grade! so I shouldn't either! ha! Side: Yes
Yes, I do think that history has a value outside of academics. What we learn in the class is very important but we never think that we are going to use it in the outside world. You will want to know who the first president of the United States was and when the Korean or WWI and II occured. Alot of what we learn in the classroom is something you will need to know outside of the classroom. That is why we take history class and learn about the things we learn about. History does have a value outside of academics. Side: Yes
I've wondered about this topic many times. I learn history, I remember dates and people. Yet still there's a side of me that wonders “what will I ever do with this subject?". If you look back on different events in history, something can help you change your perspective. I think this is a class that changes your character. When young African Americans today learn about all the different heroes that granted their freedom today, they learn to respect. When the youth today faces conflicts with the older generation they can look back through history and see when their parents too faced those conflicts and maybe can learn to compromise. The tragedies that the past has faced will reflect our future. The things that have already happened we learn today can change our choices and try to make a better one that won't result in violence or other bad outcomes. History indeed should be taken seriously as a core subject. You have to live in the future, but where would that be if it wasn't for the past. Side: Yes
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Yes history does have a value out of academics. For example what the heck are you going to tell your kids. When they need help with there work. But also it does matter because you do need it outside of school knowing about the past and know things that will effect the furture from past things that have happened Side: Yes
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yes it does...anything you do...anything you learn doesnt have to do with academics. if i learn and do something it is because I want to learn it...i dont have much enthusiasim for educational learning for the purpose of going to college and what-not, but educational learning for me...i know there are also the cases where you HAVE to learn something at school to pass the class...but most likely if you dont want to remember it or you hated learning it, you more then likely you'll forget it later. history has its own value for itself, history isnt made for our sake...but because OUR sake...even if we didnt do anything there would still be history... like the cave men drew on the walls about what they did...how they hunted they didnt draw it for themselves, but for future generations like us, we make history whether we know it or not, i learn history for the value of SELF value. Side: Yes
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I do think history has a value outside of academics. I think it's important to know about our past to not do the same mistakes that were done back then, or maybe to have a guide on how to do certain stuff that was already done. I think it's cool to learn about History because somehow or another, they are kind of our ancestors and it's nice to learn about all the stuff they did, plus you also have the choice to decide whether the stuff they did had a great impact on our lives now or not. Side: Yes
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Yes, I think that history does have a value outside of academics. I believe that all people need to know about hisotry and learn why things are the way they are today, so that can have some understanding about life through out years. If i saw two people the same and one knew about history and one didnt I would be able to tell which one had a understanding of history. Side: Yes
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history has great implications on our social live. But, there is official history- history of the Winners forged by historians, and there is subverzive history-one writed by the Losers. Which one you should trust?! I trust in what I remember, my history. (And I now that War is bed thing ,and that is something y don't need to learn, y can feel it. )So, history should not leed y trough your live. Side: Yes
history has great implications on our social live. But, there is official history- history of the Winners forged by historians, and there is subverzive history-one writed by the Losers. Which one you should trust?! I trust in what I remember, my history. (And I now that War is bed thing ,and that is something y don't need to learn, y can feel it. )So, history should not leed y trough your live. Side: Yes
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Well I really cant argue for either side cause actually I'm on both sides history has helped me outside of school.....but then again sometimes it hasn't....So on this one I'm going to be a follower which we would all agree is not a good idea but O' well....but i do sometimes use history out of class as in I make sure not to repeat past mistakes over in the same situations Side: Yes
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I think history will help us out in the future. Some of the world's greatest scientist and inventors lived back in the days. If we can figure out how they actually did think we can make new stuff today. Plus, people says history will repeat itself. I think the repeating is starting to happen because we visited the moon, now we are trying to figure out how to get to mars. Side: Yes
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Yes history does have a value out of academics. For example what the heck are you going to tell your kids. When they need help with there work. But also it does matter because you do need it outside of school knowing about the past and know things that will effect the furture from past things that have happened Side: Yes
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I think is important to know history because you can learn from the past. Is important to know how things happened, at least the important things that we used like who invited electricity, toilet, and things like that. Sometimes is difficult to understand it but, I think it’s interesting. Side: Yes
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Yes i believe history has value outside of academics because histrol not only shows the sucesses we had but many i believe it teaches us our failures and that we need to learn from it or try something else and many times we look back in history see what we did wrong and then we deciede what is right an example is slavery and how if we look in history we learn that human inslavement is a inhumane thing so we learn from it and try to prevent slavery in other countries now and that example why history is important outside of academics Side: Yes
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Of course history has value outside of academics, as a nation we suffer from the ignorance of false history perpetuated thru the school systems and the falsehoods broadcasted thru cable televison.Being of African descent i especially understand the importance of history because it is one filled with many of the answers we search for when rebuilding our legacy that was stolen.I also believe history repeats itself on many fronts so its imperative to learn your history to prepare for the future Side: Yes
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yes. consider this, many political ideas we have as a kid quickly change when we learn history. if we never learned about the dictators of the world, or about Communism, we would all be socialists and communists. cause as a kid, i remember thinking "LOL, THE RICH SHOULD GIVE THEIR MONEY TO THE POOR"... and yes, there are people in this country who actually believe "hey, that's a good idea". Side: Yes
If you know where you've been, you know where your going. If you look back at the wars, battles, triumphs, and losses that America has gone through you can easily see why it is important to know your country. America is a great country. History backs that up, and regardless to what happens, it always will. Side: History Value
I think that it does have value outside of academics because you can always look at the past and learn from mistakes and try to do better in the future. For example, in the war we've doing better than we did in the past because we have a knowledge of things we did wrong in our history. Side: Yes
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I think it is importnat to know about your past, and what you ancestors had done. It's not just some infomartion that some people have done. It's something important that people before us did, and made a big difference. That's why i think is important to keep taking this kind of classes. Side: Yes
i believe so because like a wise man once said, " if we do not learn from the past, we are doomed to repeat our failures." history is a neccesity to not make same or similar mistakes we have done as a human race, and it is also important to know where we come from, what we fight for, and where we're going. Side: Yes
Yes, because you learn what other people did in the past how they achieve something, the way they choose and if the fail you learned from those error and try not to do them again. Also it help you the different events help you understand why thing today are the way they are. Side: Yes
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I do think that history has a value outside because what about if we are in a job interview and they ask us something about the past and we dont know what to answer, thats going to look dumb. I also think that is important because we should know what happend back in the days. Side: Yes
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Yes it does and it helps a lot. Like many had said, our history will help encourage us to strive for the better or repent and never repeat our mistakes again. Or we could know the history of other people histories and learn from their mistakes. Without history we would'nt have the present. Without the present we will not have the future. Side: yes
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yes, history is filled with beautiful knowledge. It's so intensely important! I mean if we hadn't had the Titanic sink we'd still be desperately floating around in the water when our boat sank! POINTLESS. Life is pointless without knowledge. SO yes history is extremely important, it teaches us life lessons. Side: yes
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Circular logic. We should be learning about history in school, because it's taught in school I agree that it should be taught in school, but because something is taught in school doesn't mean it should be. Latin for example, is a dumb thing to teach in schools (in my opinion). Side: yes
Well it was more of a question. I guess you could call it circular logic but seriously could anybody answer that question?
Is Latin mandatory? Because I don't think it is taught on the same scale as history. If it was as valuable as history it would be a core curriculum. Is everything taught in school valuable? Depends on who you are and what you are pursuing. But it is obvious that history is of extreme importance because history covers everything. I just thought it was a stupid question. Side: Stupid Question
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Think of it this way. You made a mistake in your everyday life, and you remember not to do it again. Basically, you learned from that mistake and try not to repeat it. Same goes for history, people in the past made mistakes and people today should learn from that and try not to repeat it. It helps us create new paths in today's world by telling us the failures and successes of the people in the past. History also tells us about the people that changed the world. For example, Martin Luther King, he stood up for what he believed in and that helped to shape the world we live in now. We can learn from this and be inspired to do great things. So yes, history does have value outside academics. Side: yes
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History is valuable outside of academics because we get to learn about different cultures and important people such as those who have built monuments, discovered things of importance, fought for our rights as well as unite the country. These people should be respected for the great things they have done. History also teaches us how to learn from the mistakes which have been committed previously. Side: Yes
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Uhhh . . . your caps lock must be broke. Also, your letters "Y" and "O" must also be broke as well. May I suggest spending $20 on a new keyboard? "I ALSO THINK THAT IF U DONT KNOW HISTORY THEN HOW ARE YOU GONA ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING WHEN U NEED HISTORY IF U DONT USE IT OUT SIDE OF SCHOOL" Is anyone sure what this means? Side: Yes
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Well the past is important for people out side school because the past teach you how to created a better future. The past teach us the mistake that our ansestros made. Some people even think that our ansestros know more about the future than us that we have life longer and have better technology. Often people try to revel the things that ancient people created. Side: Yes
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Unfortunately not. If history did, then this world would be a much peaceful place. Hitler was a bad bad man, but he spoke one phrase which is one of the wisest things I've ever heard: "History is bound to repeat itself, because we pay such little attention to it the first time." Side: No
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History only repeats itself when we allow it to. One way we can allow bad events to happen again is by not remembering them. I think we all can agree that we learn through experience and learn from our mistakes. Learning from the past allows us to prevent disasters and reflect. Also, learning history allows us to look back and see just how far we've come as a society. In all history reminds us of our achievements, failures, progress, etc. History has more than value, it's priceless. Side: Yes
History does not have a lot of value outside of academics except for in very limited situations. I mean, how frequently does knowing who fought in the Battle of 1812 or was it "One if by land and two if by sea" or vice versa or any of the other random historical facts that you are forced to memorize throughout your life really come in handy. Maybe in Jeopardy or Trivial Pursuit, but I don't think that History is nearly as important of a life skill as other hard skills such as Math or Science. Side: No
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Knowing the content of history might seem like a moot point, but understanding the context and the historicity of each event lends well to understanding some of our contemporary disputes, how we can avoid future disputes, and helps mold our understanding of hospitality (treatment or love of strangers/others), informs us on notions of citizen and stranger, what it means to be other and helps us get a better perspective of socio-cultural evolution. The above might sound a little pretentious, but history is a vital field of study that helps each and every one of us in our daily lives on a practical and philosophic level. Side: Yes
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You have got to be kidding me. History is essential to the real world of business. History is how we evaluate the past and plan for the future. What about the historical performance of the New York Stock Exchange, doesn't matter? What about the history of fiscal & monetary policy? I challenge you to find one credible source of information that says that history isn't needed for the real world of business. Side: Yes
And miss out on a rich source of knowledge to start small talk on? Dont you business people need some form of small talk to warm up to your clients? Its always good to add a personal touch to your approach to business. You dont have to STUDY history, just know roughly what people are talking about. Side: Yes
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I like to disagree, the reason is because not everything in history is accurate. So when asking about if you need it outside of acedemics I really dont think so. You are taught something that was thought to have happen hundreds of years ago. The only place people will need it other than acedmics is in debates to prove their statement or in museums. Other than that people just really concentrate on working and hoping that they can make next months rent. Side: No
Just because something is in a document doesn't mean that it is reliable. These documents have been written by people who are biased, who may take on a tone which causes the reader to be biased and not have a balanced view on what really occurred. Also, those who have written the document may not have the whole story, or information needed to have a complete overview of an event. Especially with Ancient history, the sources are limited and so we can only rely on ancient historians who have gathered their information through the testimony of others who had been witness to the event, or heard from someone else who had been witness to the event. Not exactly reliable. Just because something is written does not mean that it is true. One example is Roman history which was heavily biased. This can be seen in the actions of Octavian (Augustus Caesar) who used propaganda to put down one of his opponents - Sextus Pompeius - whilst discussing the other - Marc Antony - at great length. This resulted in a very poor image of Sextus, barely any mention of him in historical references, being accused of being a pirate and being cowardly, whilst Marc Antony was hailed. It's called censorship and politics. Nothing is truly reliable, not memories, not the documents that memories are made from. Side: Yes
history has great implications on our social live. But, there is official history- history of the Winners forged by historians, and there is subverzive history-one writed by the Losers. Which one you should trust?! I trust in what I remember, my history. (And I now that War is bed thing ,and that is something y don't need to learn, y can feel it. )So, history should not leed y trough your live. Side: No
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history does have a value outside of academics, in a genral sort of sense. you learn the basic notion of good and bad. but, the date and fact that we are forced to learn are useless information. the only time this information is used is if the job requires it or the person is teaching history. Side: No
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This argument wholly depends on which type of history you are dealing with. If you are talking about recent history, say, in the last ten years, then it's completely pointless; who would desire to remember the blunders that this country has experienced in the last decade? However, if you are talking about older history, say, all of American History, then there is still an inherent lack of application to everyday society, unless of course you want to understand a few of Jon Stewart's historical allusions. The prospect of "learning from our mistakes" clearly hasn't registered, especially with those currently in power (Dick Cheney during the first Bush presidency advising against invading Iraq then invading Iraq during the second Bush administration). If our leaders, check that, if world leaders aren't learning from "past mistakes," how is history actually applicable to the average American? Side: No
Well, too bad politicians are the most childish and immature people in the world then. However, we, the united peoples of the world, are a force to be reckoned with. If all of us work towards preventing another Saddam Hussein or Hitler from gaining power, Im sure the world would be a better place. Well, thats still an ideal way above what we can achieve as the world we are in its current state. However, its always nice to have the hope that if there were more of you, the world would be a better place. Side: Yes
Ok so the teachers talk about how this class will help you make decisions better and so we don't go to the past. like all of the dictator leaders. (I don't have anything against them) Well, am i ever going to be the leader of The USA or China, Germany, England, or Africa?! No! I don't see a job that needs the subject history in it. Unless your job doesn't matter. like some bone digger. No Offense to anyone. Side: No
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I dont think that history is really needed, since you dont need it in future jobs. I think that history is just there to just fill in the gap in schedules and they dont want the classes to long. If you want to work in a place where your surrounded in historical items then i understand but i doubt that will barely happen in life. I know that history is just there to teach people on how they lived, what they did, and what happened back then, but there ain't anything in history that can help us now in future careers. Side: No
You are completely missing the point of history. Perhaps because youve been exposed to history in a negative light. I agree with you in the sense knowing about what historical objects were significant to what people and when is just plain useless. Dates wont get you anywhere. But there is SO much more to history than dates. With history you learn about what significant people have done before you and what that resulted in. It serves to help you develop as a person. What if another tyrant like Hitler were to take power again? What if your parents were killed just because they opposed the tyrant? What would life be like? Imagine being forced to work for something you dont want to work for just because the tyrant thinks it is beneficial for strengthening his grip on society? Dont you wish at that point in time you studied what the tyrant was doing before he came to power, and wish that you could do something to prevent it? And wouldnt you wish others would have done something to stop it? If you wish to prevent catastrophes like the above from happening, how are you going to know about what the tyrant is doing to get into power if you dont even have any examples to learn from? History is the most powerful tool Man has to learn and to progress. Perhaps you have not reached that stage where life would mean more than studying to get a job yet. You might change your mind when the time comes. But yeah I agree, dates suck! Side: Yes
Lots of people get by every day without a lick of exercise, too, but that doesn't mean that exercise has no value outside of professional sports. Studying history (real study and reflection, not just names and dates) helps us understand how events are connected, how certain beliefs and attitudes came about, and how the past continues to shape current events. Can a lot of people get by without studying history? Of course. Would they derive value from it anyway? I think so. Side: No
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Best question I've seen around here so far, dusted with cliche and self-justifying statements I heard back in grade school, no dignity for whatever that is closer to reality, rather to ideals of some delusional progression - the hypnotizing 'Betterment' myth of modern stamen march. "History as a path to the future" - without history we are future less. This statement here acquires the simple task of learning by experience, trial and error technique, for a whole, of an organized society, which should collectively punish itself for declared facts of it's own acts of supporting a cause or a belief, to give birth to individual guilt, enlightened responsibility and modern passiveness. An impotent self-depressant whole in which the right is much radically opposed to the left. In fact, Democrats and Republicans have different histories or at least a varied set of interpretations of whatever 'really' happened. There is no progress, politically speaking, only consequences. Individually, gear-less manual-less histories of social survivalism. "We should learn from our mistakes to ensure success \ never repeat them" - With sufficient information, we would one day figure out the truly right way to do pretty much everything. Can't argue with utopian absolutism, eh? This one quickly presents the act, whether it is a universal, a political or even a frequent act like milk pouring as rather right or wrong, very binary, very I'm under surveillance 24\7 and the sun still orbits around the invisible energies of good and evil. Mistakes are not evil, if one insists of embracing these hazy notions as the existence of 'mistakes' and 'evil', one shouldn't fear his hazy creations, their existence feed his desire of their contrasts, which morphs everything into the 'right' and 'good', while neglecting any necessity for all four of these useless notions. "History has value outside of academy in the form of exchange-value" - Maybe my usage of the 'exchange value' is not correct, but I believe that in a situation such as your boss asking you to write an article about something in relation to WWII, you would have your knowledge of history as a relief. But stating that a situation like that values and justifies history is like saying that celebrity specialization is much more important. Side: No
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history has great implications on our social live. But, there is official history- history of the Winners forged by historians, and there is subverzive history-one writed by the Losers. Which one you should trust?! I trust in what I remember, my history. (And I now that War is bed thing ,and that is something y don't need to learn, y can feel it. )So, history should not leed y trough your live. Side: Yes
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