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3.0.0 How we got where we are: History - OverviewVersion 1.4 November 2016 (Previous Version) History has a good story to tell about how societies developed, and how we got to be as we are. A major problem with our personal knowledge of history is that it is generally short term and parochial: we know about a few selected events, often in the recent past, and not the wider picture. What we think are the “known knowns” often actually reflect our own narrow-minded ignorance. Members of ethnic groups may feel that they know their own history, but often don't know the details, because they aren’t personally aware of them or the details are unknown even to scholars. Some of what we think we know is distorted. Political and religious leaders who exploit history usually avoid a long-term, global perspective, hoping that we, their audience, don't know or care enough to correct them. We all need to expand our perspectives to discover greater truths. The “known unknowns” may be less of a problem, if we remain aware of them. As members of one ethnic group, we rarely know much about other people’s history. We can personally commit to learning more about our shared, long-term, global history. Professional historians are generally aware of the uncertainties in their reconstructions of the causes of wars or social movements. To historians, the “unknown unknowns” are a manageable concern. For the rest of us, who don’t know what we don't know, what is far more critical is our personal ignorance, our own “unknown unknowns”, especially when we make critical life choices or political decisions that affect others. ------------------------- But history’s current stories, at least those that take a global and long term perspective, despite their flaws and potential omissions, are still good, and will be replaced only by better ones. The introduction has a short summary of our historical conclusions (see 0.3.3). The slightly longer overview below covers the same conclusions in slightly more detail. Part 3: History: Conclusions (long version 1.3, November 2016) History shows that: ● Different rates of development are based on geographical accidents rather than innate superiority of any one nation, ethnic group or race. ● Most sexist distinctions, and discrimination based on gender or sexual preference, are cultural, not innate, and societies are better, and all individuals are happier, if we rise above primitive and inappropriate sexist and sexual distinctions. ● Societies are happier and more prosperous when they are democratic: having rulers accountable to the electorate, some separation of powers, the rule of law, appointing officials on merit, and centralized, constitutional control of coercive powers. ● Democracies are better than tyrannies, but they still have inherent risks. Even advanced societies are prone to collapse, because of the shortsightedness and self-interest of their rulers, the apathy of the general population, and ignorance of environmental threats. Democracies are at risk when leaders fear losing popular support and are reluctant to adopt the best long term strategies for the nation. ● Societies are more prosperous, and more likely to support human rights, with better education, especially of girls. We are responsible for educating ourselves as global citizens and for ensuring society in general is educated on the issues that affect us. ● Solutions to our global issues will be advanced by: increased, research, greater awareness among the electorate, fostering global institutions to address global problems, devolving some government functions to independent non-partisan expert commissions, and transparent, evidence based decision making. more
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We acknowledge the traditional owners and custodians of Country, throughout all colonised lands, and their connections to land, waters and community. We pay respect by giving voice to truth, values and social justice, acknowledging our shared history, and valuing the cultures of first nations peoples.
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