Anachronous Rex
New Member
This thread is largely inspired by the book The Purpose of the Past: Reflections on the Uses of History, written by Gordon S. Wood.
We have, of course, heard that those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. It has also been said that history is written by the winners. Thus the question must arise: is it possible to ever truly know history?
Can the reality of past events ever escape from the mire of misconception and popular memory? And, if not, are the vast efforts of historical revisionists to extricate the truth nothing more then waisted energy? What is it we can reasonably hope to learn from the past?
I eagerly await your thoughts...
We have, of course, heard that those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. It has also been said that history is written by the winners. Thus the question must arise: is it possible to ever truly know history?
Can the reality of past events ever escape from the mire of misconception and popular memory? And, if not, are the vast efforts of historical revisionists to extricate the truth nothing more then waisted energy? What is it we can reasonably hope to learn from the past?
I eagerly await your thoughts...