Poll: History, an important subject?

[Caligulove]

people say it is important so that you do not repeat the mistakes of the past... but personally I think it is important just for the sake of knowing where you come from, for the sake of stories and to remember those that came before us.

Having that kind of set-up and remembering things is one of the things that just makes us human.

That and establishing precedence in matters of law and order... that always helps too.

 

[Stabber1010]

History is a pack of lies we play on the dead.

-Voltaire

 

[kat-24]

Most stuff you learn in school is not directly applicable to your specific occupation. Let's face it most people don't use algebra on a daily basis, and you don't need to know that the world is round or that it orbits the sun in oder to get through your daily life. In fact if you know how to put on your pants, steal food, find shelter, and use a toilet you can probably get through your adult life without learning anything.

As sad as it is, you're quite right. But I like to think there's more to life than that, and science and general cultural knowledge can make your life, and that of others, quite a bit more enjoyable and meaningful. This mentality, of course, might easily escape the odd 16 year old.

You're certainly right, I'm in highschool myself and I'm saddened by the lack of intellectual drive for knowledge in my school. While 'm not a perfect student, I understand that my mind is a powerful tool, and when you waste it you're closing many doors. You meet more interesting people by being cultured and aware, than you do when ignorant. Which is why when you are well informed it can lead to conversations, leading to friends.

 

[kat-24]

EDIT: holy shit the guy right before me stated my point.

Sorry mate, I ninja'd you.

Off Topic*

 

[Sad Robot]

You're certainly right, I'm in highschool myself and I'm saddened by the lack of intellectual drive for knowledge in my school. While 'm not a perfect student, I understand that my mind is a powerful tool, and when you waste it you're closing many doors. You meet more interesting people by being cultured and aware, than you do when ignorant. Which is why when you are well informed it can lead to conversations, leading to friends.

Unfortunately, you'll come to notice that said "lack of intellectual drive" isn't restricted to high school.

 

[PrimeSynergy]

It's one of the most important subjects there are. Without it, you will have a legendarily limited scope on culture, politics, technology, religion, and so forth. Many of my viewpoints on contemporary issues are coloured by how things in the past have turned out. It's like one huge, epic story with characters, morals, themes, motifs, and plot twists.

To me, history is incredibly important; without understanding it, nothing in the present makes much sense. History provides that context for everything that has led to where humans are now.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

 

[FluffyNeurosis]

?History doesn't repeat itself but it does rhyme.? - Mark Twain

Trying not to repeat the mistakes of the past is a good reason to know your history and it makes you a more informed citizen. For example when we invaded Afghanistan I was all BALLS because I knew about Anglo Afghan war one/two and what happened to the Soviets in that hell hole. This is probably just me being a colossal nerd but history has given me more lolz than any TV show or game. You know what the Japanese called their empire in WWII? The ?Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere? Seriously I love those guys; they captured Chinese girls for rape and then killed them if they got pregnant and they had the balls to make it sound like a children?s theme park. I also read a letter from the Chinese emperor to the British excusing their perceived rudeness as the ignorance of a people isolated on ?a tiny little island.? This came shortly before China got its shit ruined in the Opium war. History is fun

 

[zehydra]

The original point of public schooling was to prepare the youth of America to vote with a knowledgeable background. I think that History is actually one of the few subjects that helps with this the most (mainly US history). lol, but I hate public school...

 

[TailsRodrigez]

EDIT: holy shit the guy right before me stated my point.

Sorry mate, I ninja'd you.

Off Topic*

Curse you, kat-24!!!!!

 

[Good morning blues]

Primary and high school aren't for learning how to do a particular job; they are for learning the basic skills you need to exist in the world and for turning you into a decent citizen. Learning pertinent history is very, very important for the second part. Today's political issues didn't appear out of thin air.

 

[mooncalf]

Anyway the question is, Is History a useless subject? If not can you explain why?

This guy said it well:

"Progress, far from consisting in change, depends on retentiveness. When change is absolute there remains no being to improve and no direction is set for possible improvement: and when experience is not retained, as among savages, infancy is perpetual. Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." - George Santayana.

 

[300lb. Samoan]

While that's a valid point and I wouldn't ever contend that an entire subject is completely useless, what is the point in forcing someone who plans on studying medicine or engineering? What about people who plan on going into a trade?

"Doctor, the patient has hepatitis. What course of action do we take?"
"Hmm, I dunno. What have doctors done in the past?"
"Umm.... I dunno. No one wrote it down or studied it."
"Blast! Well... hepatitis is in the blood, right? What if we drain out all the blood?
"We could try it! Makes sense to me if you just got rid of the bad blood, the hepatitis would go with it!"
"OK, get a bucket and a needle. Prick the patient's finger and put his hand in the bucket. Let him bleed it out for a couple days and we'll see how he feels then."
And that was the fourth time doctors discovered that blood-letting doesn't work. In 2009.

Obviously older, valid medical theories are taught, and still used. You seem to think that if a doctor doesn't study history in highschool that they will somehow skip the entirety of their medicine degree, that is, of course, retarded. All study is based on histroy, I seem to recall saying that I don't think history is a complete waste of time. Seriously, You're example involves doctors completely disregarding all medical knowledge.

Shockingly, I don't claim history relevent to ones profession is irrelivent. Rather, I claim that history in the capacity it was taught to me in highschool, was an absoloute and complete waste of my time. You're more than welcome to go back and re-read what I've written.

I'm more than a little disheartended when the arts students of the world have trouble comprehending the opinions of others.

I'm not refuting your opinion, just demonstrating where professions would be without historical evaluation. Don't take it personally or anything, it's just the internet. And I've got news for you, high-school history classes SUCK. Get and A or get used to it.

 

[Dys]

While that's a valid point and I wouldn't ever contend that an entire subject is completely useless, what is the point in forcing someone who plans on studying medicine or engineering? What about people who plan on going into a trade?

"Doctor, the patient has hepatitis. What course of action do we take?"
"Hmm, I dunno. What have doctors done in the past?"
"Umm.... I dunno. No one wrote it down or studied it."
"Blast! Well... hepatitis is in the blood, right? What if we drain out all the blood?
"We could try it! Makes sense to me if you just got rid of the bad blood, the hepatitis would go with it!"
"OK, get a bucket and a needle. Prick the patient's finger and put his hand in the bucket. Let him bleed it out for a couple days and we'll see how he feels then."
And that was the fourth time doctors discovered that blood-letting doesn't work. In 2009.

Obviously older, valid medical theories are taught, and still used. You seem to think that if a doctor doesn't study history in highschool that they will somehow skip the entirety of their medicine degree, that is, of course, retarded. All study is based on histroy, I seem to recall saying that I don't think history is a complete waste of time. Seriously, You're example involves doctors completely disregarding all medical knowledge.

Shockingly, I don't claim history relevent to ones profession is irrelivent. Rather, I claim that history in the capacity it was taught to me in highschool, was an absoloute and complete waste of my time. You're more than welcome to go back and re-read what I've written.

I'm more than a little disheartended when the arts students of the world have trouble comprehending the opinions of others.

I'm not refuting your opinion, just demonstrating where professions would be without historical evaluation. Don't take it personally or anything, it's just the internet. And I've got news for you, high-school history classes SUCK. Get and A or get used to it.

Obviously nobody is suggesting that we shouldn't study things in our history (because you simply cannot study without studying various things in history, one cannot hope to understand chemistry without an idea who Avagadro is, nor can we understand physics without knowledge of Newton both of which are tought in highschool science classes), the subject is about high school history class, and yes, they do rather suck which is more or less what the OPs point is. I would contend that they are pointless for the majority of students, and it is stupid that it is a manditory class as most people don't get anything from it.

 

[ottenni]

I think its something worth learning, but if your not interested you shouldn't be forced. Anyway chances are you will end up learning history in every day life (even if it will likely be very hollywoodised (I think i just invented a word, think that is)).

 

[300lb. Samoan]

I'm not refuting your opinion, just demonstrating where professions would be without historical evaluation. Don't take it personally or anything, it's just the internet. And I've got news for you, high-school history classes SUCK. Get and A or get used to it.

Obviously nobody is suggesting that we shouldn't study things in our history (because you simply cannot study without studying various things in history, one cannot hope to understand chemistry without an idea who Avagadro is, nor can we understand physics without knowledge of Newton both of which are tought in highschool science classes), the subject is about high school history class, and yes, they do rather suck which is more or less what the OPs point is. I would contend that they are pointless for the majority of students, and it is stupid that it is a manditory class as most people don't get anything from it.[/quote]
I think what students are meant to get from it is an appreciation of how history informs our present world. Sadly, what students actually get is a fist-full of nationalist propaganda and a horrible after-taste that leads to discussions like this.

 

[The Hairminator]

Wisdom word of the day: To truly understand what and why something is today you must first study its and other things history.

 

[Glass_House]

I find it interesting. Events in ancient times changed the way the world works today, and the best way to prepare for your future is to know about your past.

 

[Fingerprint]

To put it simply: "Those who forget history are condemned to repeat it".

Yes history is important, it give us heritage and it allows us to learn form past mistakes. Although history classes themselves may not seem too relevant to you becomming a doctor but think about this, all the knowledge that you'll gain in medical school will come from the doctors of the past recording their findings and passing on the information. And for instance if you happen to find by chance, or any other means, a cure for some disease (e.g. the common cold) and you don't record it it will be lost and forgotten down the line whereas with history and therefore records it will be used in the future becuase the information will be there for others.

Another example would be Einstein, without history's records he would be forgotten in the next few generations and chances are that already his thoeries would be either forgotten or not passed on correctly via word of mouth and all his work would have been for nothing (assuming that without history the human race would have got that far technologically).

So although it may seem like a boring waste of time it is in fact a very important & essential part of society; if you think about it every job uses history in one way or another, directly or indirectly.