Do we have to care about the history? Why do we bother to study the past? It is always an interesting debate in education. The dates, the places, and the names on the textbooks generally seem irrelevant to our daily lives, but it is still an essential for students to delve into ancestors’ memories. In my personal experience, being a “historical illiterate” could result from my history of being terribly exploited by this inefficient and inflexible educational system in my country. Not until I exposed to cultural shock was I finally conquered by the real charm of history — I had to be equipped with the knowledge of my own culture to appropriately introduce myself to my international friends. Before that I always considered history as a bore and no more than a compulsive subject to “rote-memorise” only for the examinations. Future is everything about what we dream, imagine and hypothesise. Imagination is the most distinctive capability of humankind, which was suggested to be the fiercest weapon with which they arm to dominate the Earth over the other living creatures. As a future-oriented individual, I was convinced that exploring the unknown is prior to retrospect of the past. We are intellectual, however, far from omnipotent to avoid making mistakes, unfortunately irretrievable ones, even inevitably repeated.
Thus, the answer to this question is YES even if I used to despise it when being a student in medical and science.
Things happen for a reason, just like diseases can only be thoroughly cured after identifying the real causes. A precise diagnosis requires health history, which further helps the professionals to estimate the life expectancy. Similarly, statistics is an analysis of events governed by probability. A trend curates a series of statistic data that varies over time to form a pattern that must consist of several pasts and presence, while a statement about the future based on the trend is defined as a prediction. All the assumptions are made with the meticulous analysis of the past. Nevertheless, prediction is uncertain but still an imperfect guidance for preparation rather than nothing to rely on. From another scientific perspective, constant observation on a periodic event leads to hypothesis, which formulates theories that await to be validated by experiments. Whether a previous theory is taken as the reference or not, that is a fundamental path a well-verified discovery should be made through. I can go on, but I think the value of history in science has been well-explained.
If you do think discovering the secret of the universe, understanding the quantum theory, or predicting an advanced-technology invention as the The Simpsons require our imagination, then you will also agree that learning history is actually the same. Future is a circumstance that we have never been through in person like the past — unless you are a four-dimensional creature. A historical narrative inspires our imagination, where we excitedly assume how the mummies were produced in ancient Egypt, or how the three kingdoms had divided and ruled a such tremendous territory in Later Han Chinese. Further more, the artists and workers in production industry visualise these scenes and stories into films, indeed a more inviting way in communications. Magically, those dates, places and names become so tangible and alive by storytelling, and we even start to take sides, supporting our favourite characters or causing against one’s enemies. Speaking of the battles of throne and power, it is said that only time will tell. We will not really know how people’s behaviours influence the world until it becomes history decades later. During the time that Hitler rose to power in 1930s, both Nazis and Anti-Nazis genuinely believed that they were taking stance of fighting for freedom and justice for their kinds. After generations, we look back at this seemingly “right against right” historical event and realise that time will prove which is right or wrong and decide whether Hitler was a charismatic protagonist who brought prosperity to Germany or a ruthless dictator that ripped human races apart, persecuted and massacred millions of Jewish people. Likewise, it will eventually come to conclusion by our descendants whether Donald Trump was a hero or villain, or Brexit reshaped or split the UK, or Taiwan is moving forward or backward on an optimistic path of independency by voting for Democratic Progressive Party in 2024 presidential election, the outcome of which was deemed as a straightforward indication against unification with China despite of being under threat of using military force by Communist Party of China. Although the factors might differ from the environments, history lectures us and plays a crucial role in our decision making.
Initially, art motivated me that I started reading the books in relation of art history and found the connection between the reformation of a society and the development of aesthetics; whilst the occasion that truly enlightened me to realise the importance of history is quite political. The relationship between Taiwan and China has been always controversial since before my birth. Getting older, as a Taiwanese dwelling on this island, I can not help but start noticing how this intense status profoundly affects even manipulates our lives. In my opinion, we will not become a mature adult until the personality and self-identity have fully established no matter in what age. Eager to decipher the complicated context of this “status quo”, I must learn the whole story that helps to define who I am. As a responsible citizen owning the right to vote, I can only explore the origin of my country to determine which route to take with confidence.
It is fascinating to see how this world is shifting in several ways from The Big Bang, the evolution or extinction of species, the increase in human population, the growth or death of a community, to the expansion or demolition of a nation. Only a full picture of the past can effectively aid us to navigate our next step. How to make the old-time events more naturally inspiring and relevant to the presence? We will find our own epiphany and see the beauty of history through that unique lens.
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