The phenomenon of History

Each movement of the second hand is a step forward in the path of time. Although time is a universal concept, no one can clearly define what time is.

However, time has certain properties that can be understood. The speed with which time passes can be measured. In addition, time goes only in one direction. The past is a time that has passed, it has become a story that will never be repeated.

What is history? In short, it is knowledge of our past. Living without knowledge of the events of the past is the same as losing memory. There is a saying - "those who forget the past are doomed to repeat its mistakes." Thanks to history, we can get acquainted with ancient civilizations, fascinating discoveries, interesting personalities and different worldviews.

When we want to learn something from the past, the information, of course, must be based on reliable facts. And when we discover the truth, we must accept it, even if it turns out to be unpleasant. The past is sometimes reminiscent of a rose garden: it is tempting but prickly, and can not only captivate the imagination but also cause pain.

Of all the known historical "facts", only a small number can be fully verified and confirmed. Most scholars who study historical documents agree that the modern view of life in one way or another affects our interpretation and vision of the past. Therefore, there may be several different points of view on the same historical event. The most valuable are those views and studies that are based on primary sources - documents created during or shortly after the events being studied.

History by some authors refers to the humanities, others - to the social sciences, and may be considered as an area between the humanities and social sciences. Professional historians also discuss whether history is a science or a free art. This division is largely artificial, as history as a field of knowledge is usually viewed in different aspects. The study of history is often associated with certain practical or theoretical goals, but can also be a manifestation of ordinary human curiosity.

There is also such a thing as a "philosophy of history." She tries to answer the question of the ultimate meaning of human history. The same branch of philosophy includes ideas about the possible teleological end of history, that is, whether history develops from any plan, whether it has a purpose, guiding principles, and whether it is finite in time. Trying to understand the "meaning of history", as well as the lessons it gives - an important task of the historian. Without this, the historian will probably become an ordinary chronicler. Therefore, if someone considers history just a boring school subject, he is greatly mistaken.

I hope you found this article a little interesting. Let it be a good start for all those who study history with the right motives!