The Defense of History

History and its Relevance

History occupies a central role in our society. It consists of events, dates, personalities, nations, wars, and songs. Additionally, every country, continent, community as well as individual persons also have their histories. It is for this reason why people learn to understand their accounts and why the current world is the way it is. This in part explains why the previous history that was written by predecessors appears more original, detailed and accurate as compared to being reported by the current persons. Additionally, it explains why a new pointer to history is regarded as a shadow of its former. It is prone to be misreported, accidentally or intentionally be distorted. This comes at a backdrop when fairness, accuracy, content, and reality are overlooked while criticizing why an issue represents what it does. The defense of History made Richard reply to every critic of his piece.

Richard J. Evans and His Defense of History

Richard J. Evans represents the kind of Historian who advocates for the defense of History. His defense received condemnation and welcome in the same measure due to the book he wrote regarding defending history. He lectured at Cambridge University and an experienced Historian with vast knowledge. He defends History and its relevancy even in the modern time where its knowledge and adoption are in doubt (Jenkins 25). He has managed to create hope in learning History despite the changes in learning, and revised syllabuses believe in History as people-centered as well as their interactions. It delves into the question of the freedom available to people to venture into developing their personal lives and their future. This belief is what makes his book to dig deeper into human interactions to establish the impact of coming together. These interactions are the ones responsible for the innovations, wars, political formations, education, medicine as well as national stability. Through his book, the belief in peace is noted that results into personal development of the people.

Support for a New School for Studying History

In his pursuit to defend history, he is of the opinion that the establishment of a new school for studying history is a positive move (Evans 20). This was because, the latest developments across countries with various historical events, politics and the difference in approaches regarding the study. Through this support, he believes that History differs from one nation to another and the methodology of passing it is unique depending on various nations. Hence, no single way of passing the knowledge can be applied across the board, and this is vital in the passage of its uniqueness and restoring the subject into the future.

History as an Unchanging Source of Truth

The book believes that History will remain so and is not bound to change. It tries to dissuade the modern Historians against the assumption of the irrelevance of the previous History as a creation of former Historians` minds. This belief is reinforced by the modern Historian`s inability to conclusively understand the past (Evans 26). However, this is dispelled by the book because facts will always remain so and will never change. Additionally, it dispels the notion of History as a rationalist tradition due to the Evans` German origin where oppression took place. These given assumptions are what reinforces the books appeal to a vast number of followers and the need to preserve History for future generations concerning accurate events, dates, and inventions. History is considered relevant because it gives us hindsight into why we are where today as nations, learn from past mistakes and chart our future destiny. Through this, the book aims at enabling people to accept facts as they are and avoid distortions which will make historical events be misinterpreted.

Historians and the Pursuit of Truth

The author depicts a Historian as an individual who is preoccupied with unraveling the truth regarding the past. After establishing the truth, he or she is required to represent the facts to those without the knowledge accurately. This is the driving force towards the need to preserve History, defend, and give accurate testimonies on what transpired in previous years. The application of intellect and personal synthesis from scholars and modern historians distorts its meaning (Evans 8). This dilution in Historical events, dates, and facts is very rampant with the current crop of Historians. In essence, every scholar wants to come up with his or her view which eventually leads to confusion and non-uniformity in what is disseminated. The belief in facts, primary sources, and history drive the reasoning attached to his passion as opposed to pieces of information received from secondary sources. The origin and cause of everything historical proved worthwhile in defending history. History is believed to be objective and flexible thus no rigidity, and limiting factors apply in History.

The Role of Historians in Dispelling Misconceptions

History takes shape from how events take place. The Historian usually is not a party to the events but is supposed to state facts in their form. Events may mislead because they arise from beliefs of their makers who may have vested interest as opposed to facts. Resourceful persons and Historians with facts can dispel this kind of notions. This is reinforced by Evans who states that writings will remain writings in the same way reality shall remain the reality.

Truth in Modern Times

The presence of truth can still be felt even in modern times whereby empirical studies are done to develop assumptions regarding History (Munro 96). This creates a gap due to the difference between the present and the past as a result of the extent of exposure to historic events.

Preserving History and Seeking the Truth

It is in this spirit whereby History is defended because of the temptation and high likelihood of misrepresentation and supplementing of reality with writings. Even though History can be diluted through intermediation from one generation to the other, the real truth and reality still exist and can be found in sources. The truth on History or any fact can be determined by the intent of the writer and the limits imposed by the writings which can be got from the originator of the ideas. There were various criticisms advanced by that were directed at Evans book and stance regarding criticism of conservative historians, the notion of the need to defend history and dismissal of objectivity in empirical history. Additionally, History is portrayed as unchanging because events, dates, and personalities of the time do not change. It is this from this mindset does it believe on the status quo of fact (Jenkins 18). Additionally, History is viewed as factual and non-changing hence not prone to contradiction. Lastly, the book and the author do not criticize the viewpoints of the postmodernists but rather state facts as they are truthfully and comprehensively. Moreover, the same Historians who were going astray have realized their mistakes and are getting back to the cue and becoming History in themselves. This History of the twentieth century is compared to intellectual dividends and the destruction in the linguistic application.

In Defense of History

In Defense of History is done in the precincts of keeping Historians within the subject and not the use of intellect to water down its contents. This defense is based on History’s specific facts, origins, causes and the functioning of ideas as the tenets required to scientifically and objectively answer Historical questions. Despite departing from true Historical events, eventually, persons discover the difference between the incorrect and accurate representation of previous reality, thus assisting the learners and professionals appreciate the truth (Kansteiner 218). History is in a position of defending itself from anyone who wants to distort its meaning through objectivity through scientific approaches to its interpretation. Eventually, the truth comes out, and such dishonest interpreters begin to realize the facts.

The Pursuit of Knowledge in History

The knowledge and quest for more of History and its application made him venture into the History of Nazi Rule, the Holocaust, the Second World War, histories of societies, towns, gender, leisure organizations, and social rituals (Evans 68) that arose in 1945 to 1960s. This was the period where History grew tremendously. However, in the 1980s, Universities were used by politicians to advance their plight and install academicians as the head of the institutions which had little regard for Historic facts. This eventually made postmodern Historians realize that the inequality in society arises due to personalization of persons which leads to segregation and fight for social power.

The Importance of Objective History

In this regard, In Defense of History is concerned with how the present crop of Historians use the Historical documents discriminatively for personal reasons and distort facts. believes that historical records have no grounds to be found in the record per se. Hence, there is no particular way that one can authoritatively stand on a fact as opposed to another (White 101). This ground becomes so challenging to defend because of the lack of proven consistency in assembling facts to ascertain what is truthful in Historical work.

The Relevance of History and the Limitations of Empiricism

Political and philosophical History can all be valid because there is no basis of deciding otherwise (Kansteiner 222). In some instances, the author attacked his critics harshly because of his belief that they were distorting facts. This was strange because the book reviewers were never replied. This diverged from his stance of engaging on points of facts as he believed. His objectivity is brought to question because he occasionally contradicts himself while defending History. History was relevant yesterday, today, and tomorrow. The knowledge of History enables us to know our past, where we are and in charting our future. The experience of our factual past is vital in allowing us to determine what mistakes whether good or bad were made. Through this, a society, an individual, or a nation can learn from them and make sound decisions on what to do.

The Significance of In Defense of History

In Defense of History is a good reflection on fighting for the truth in this aspect. It did not attack postmodern Historians on individual capacity but issue-based ideology. The importance of History was championed, and its facts were meant to remain facts. This was contrary to what the new generation depicted from History whereby, their viewpoint was diluted due to the use of secondary sources and empiricism in studying History.

The Need to Preserve and Seek Historical Facts

History needs defending, and that can be so if the truth is sought from sources because such sources still exist. Additionally, History does not change hence cannot be interpreted subjectively. Flexibility in History refers to the changes that arise from events due to the time difference but not the evolution of what happened in a particular given time. For instance, what happened during the First World War differs from what happened in the Second World war, but the facts for each remain unchanged. This is the objectivity and flexibility given by In Defense of History but not the distortion of the participants in the war.

Relevance of In Defense of History to the Modern World

It is therefore vital for facts to remain as they are. The book occupies the right place in defense of History and will be used for generations. It represents the countable number of historical proponents who are willing to stand for historical objectivity. It dispels the adoption of History on empirical grounds as being objective.

The Changing Nature of Social Theory

However, the social theory does not remain static. It is bound to change because of the dynamism of the world. Influences such as crime, dress patterns, education, administration of security cannot be static because new developments that require adjustments must be made. The book is relevant to the current world since it fights for the originality and factual reporting of Historical events. Consequently, empirical studies as advanced by some academicians cannot be used to illustrate History.

Work Cited

Evans, Richard J. In defence of history. Granta Books, 2012.

Munro, Doug. “In Defence of History.”journal of social history36.1 (2002): 242-244.

Jenkins, Keith. Why history?. Routledge, 2005.

Kansteiner, Wulf. “Mad history disease contained? Postmodern excess management advice from the UK.”History and Theory 39.2 (2000): 218-229.

White, Hayden. The content of the form: Narrative discourse and historical representation. JHU Press, 2009.