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Understanding History's Nature and Significance

The document discusses the concept, nature, and significance of history, emphasizing its role in understanding human society and its development across various domains. It highlights the interconnectedness of historical facts and the influence of contemporary perspectives on historical writing. Additionally, it addresses the variation in historical interpretation based on time and the importance of value judgment by historians.

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Javeedkhan Pattan
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5 views1 page

Understanding History's Nature and Significance

The document discusses the concept, nature, and significance of history, emphasizing its role in understanding human society and its development across various domains. It highlights the interconnectedness of historical facts and the influence of contemporary perspectives on historical writing. Additionally, it addresses the variation in historical interpretation based on time and the importance of value judgment by historians.

Uploaded by

Javeedkhan Pattan
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

History – Its Concept, of events but in solving as many controversies relating to past events as

Nature and Significance


possible and bringing these to focus on society.
● History helps us to understand the development of human society
NOTES with its entire ramification in arts, letters, religion, philosophy,
and administration, an adventure of ideas, culture and way of life.
Through history alone, one can know, understand and appreciate the
world as it is. It is the hyphen that connects and the buckle than binds
the present with the past and enables us to see how man has
discovered better ways of living and discounted bitter ways of
discards and disputes. Is it not true that history is “an unending
dialogue between the present and the past”.
All History is Contemporary History
According to some scholars, historical facts are correlated with each other.
Thucydides is of the view that all historical facts are related to one another in a
rational way and permanent manner, which in effect means that the entire
march of history, is one continuous whole.
● Benedetto Croce opined that all history is one supreme spirit which
is indivisible but has four different aspects namely art, logic,
economics, and ethics. These emerge from the basic unity of spirit.
The mainsprings of all historical forces are this spirit and as such all
history is contemporary history.
● Again, he said that human nature does not change, therefore, the
action which is the product of that nature cannot vary in substance.
Collingwood is of the view that historians while writing past are not
free from compulsions of their age. So, their writings are largely
influenced by modern ideas. In this way, the present and the past are
co-related with each other. These scholars hold that there was a
uniformity of the messages of Gautama Buddha, Vardhaman
Mahavira, Mahatma Gandhi and Jesus Christ. This fact supports the
contemporary nature of history.
Variation in History
History varies not only according to the time but also from historian to historian.
It is quite obvious that the nature of history is largely influenced by the
philosophy of that age. The history written during the colonial rule varies from
that is written by historians after the freedom.
● Contemporary historians present historical events from his viewpoint
and a patriot will point out the different look of history. The social,
economic, and religious factors also affect the historical outlook.
Importance of Value Judgment by Historians
At present, there arises a controversy that whether value judgment has
importance in history or not. Lord Acton emphasized that value judgment is
Self-Instructional
not only desirable but also it is essential in history.
10 Material

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