The major challenges to historical research revolve around the problems of sources, knowledge, explanation, objectivity, choice of subject, and the peculiar problems of contemporary history. Sources The problem of sources is a serious challenge to the historian in the task of reconstructing the past. Is there more?
One must be aware that the "phenomenon of history" is not something that lies in a past that can be distinguished from the historian of the present. Each sentence, by being pronounced, is already history. This insight is fundamental to the whole process of reconstructing the past, because it does not exist without the reference to those people who try to reconstruct it. This is done by selecting thoughts about the past to be described in our consciousness. And this process takes place in a way that George H. Mead has stated in his social theory: By trying to grasp the past - parts of it - we also look ahead to our own (moral) judgment (not as a consequence of the representation at the end). And we look ahead - especially in conflicts and controversial historical contexts - to the judgement of the expert audience.
One must be aware that the "phenomenon of history" is not something that lies in a past that can be distinguished from the historian of the present. Each sentence, by being pronounced, is already history. This insight is fundamental to the whole process of reconstructing the past, because it does not exist without the reference to those people who try to reconstruct it. This is done by selecting thoughts about the past to be described in our consciousness. And this process takes place in a way that George H. Mead has stated in his social theory: By trying to grasp the past - parts of it - we also look ahead to our own (moral) judgment (not as a consequence of the representation at the end). And we look ahead - especially in conflicts and controversial historical contexts - to the judgement of the expert audience.
History is written by the victorious and for the victorious,therefore we depend on the victor’s honesty and truthfulness.
"If the lion wrote history, the hunter would not be a hero." ~ African proverb.
"If the lion wrote history, the hunter would not be a hero." ~ African Proverb.
If the geographers tell you that Europe is a continent, how biased are the historians?
Well....some wiseman has warned us for historical lessons we ought not to forget. Herodotus made a habit of spreading all sorts of falsehood about the Persian Empire.....that tradition has never stopped.....today some educated moderns are still making all sorts of falsehood about that civilization and its people.... so, enough already about the Wigg interpretations of history. Rumi's 'Indian Parable of the Blind' is usually called to the rescue everytime the intellectual discourse runs into a dich. It is fascinating how each time, the central message of Rumi, which is not at all about the lack of perception of the blind, but rather about the Elephant in the room!!!
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