Understanding of history by Philip Zelikow
В начале одной из лекций профессор Виргинского Университета, который, собственно, ведет тот курс по истории, о котором я недавно писал, внезапно начал говорить про то, почему он не проводит параллелей между историей и настоящим. И одна мысль из этого лирического отступления кажется мне достойной, чтобы ее записать.
...I think the historical knowledge is essential to current events, but in a deeper way. Take in the history, use it just to enrich your understanding of why things have happened the way they have. The way countries act. The way choices are made. Not because, oh yeah, that's going to be just like what's going on right now.
But because in the same way you learn form novels, you learn from poetry, historical knowledge can just make you wiser, make you a little more thoughtful.
...I think the historical knowledge is essential to current events, but in a deeper way. Take in the history, use it just to enrich your understanding of why things have happened the way they have. The way countries act. The way choices are made. Not because, oh yeah, that's going to be just like what's going on right now.
But because in the same way you learn form novels, you learn from poetry, historical knowledge can just make you wiser, make you a little more thoughtful.