综合英语.西方思想经典选读(常俊跃黄滔)_Text B Use and Abuse of History（1 / 1）_综合英语.西方思想经典选读最新章节免费阅读无弹窗

Pieter Geyl

Pre-reading

Pieter Catharinus Arie Geyl (1887-1966) was a Dutch historian well known for his studies in early modern Dutch history and in historiography. His most famous book was Napoleon F or and Against, an account of how French historians of different ages and views have regarded the French Emperor. From Napoleon’s time to the present, French historians have presented Napoleon as either a Corsican adventurer who brought death and destruction to France or as a patriotic Frenchman who brought glory and prosperity. Geyl used his book to advance his view that all historians are influenced by the present when writing history and thus all historical writing is transitory. In Geyl’s view, there never can be a definitive account for all ages because every age has a different view of the past. For Geyl, the best that historians could do was to critically examine their beliefs and urge their readers to do likewise. Geyl felt that history was a progress of “argument without end”, but did not feel that this meant that an “anything goes” interpretation of history was acceptable.

Prompts for Your Reading

1.When you read a history book, do you occasionally feel skeptical about the “facts or factors”? Why or why not?

2.Geyl says, “Behind the fact, behind the goddess History, there is a historian.” How do you understand this statement?

3.A myth is sometimes defined as a traditional fairy story accepted as history. What role or roles does it play, especially in certain social groups or religious circles?

4.Have you read any stories about Buddha? Can you distinguish the facts from the myths in them?

5.How would you explain the notion that a historian’s history will suffer from his being so wrapped up in a myth of his own day?

6.What attitude should a historian take while writing history?

[1] The historian cannot evade his responsibility. To ascertain the bare facts or factors, sometimes a difficult job in all conscience, is only the first stage of his work: if he is to give an intelligible account, if he will to his own satisfaction understand, he must use his material by choosing from it1, ordering it, and interpreting it. In doing so he is bound to introduce an element of subjectivity; that is, he will tamper with or detract from the absolute, unchanging truth.“I shall stick to the fact,”“I shall let the facts speak for themselves” — these wellknown turns of speech are often permissible enough, but they are apt to be as misleading as that other favorite phrase: “History shows.” Behind the fact, behind the goddess History, there is a historian. Clio2 may be in possession of the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, but to the historian (the young, middle-aged, or old lady or gentleman rummaging among papers in the archive or wring at a desk) she will at best, in exchange for their labor and devotion, vouchsafe a glimpse. Never will she surrender the whole of her treasure. The most that we can hope for is a partial rendering, an approximation, of the real truth about the past.

[2] The historian merely preserves, but the members of the community use the material preserved as3 and when it suits them. Yet as I see it, the historian often and rightly plays a more active part, shaping the material, suggesting, if only by implication, conclusions of importance for the present. Even so, the collective memory of the public, largely the product of the historians’ teaching, is much more defective and erratic4 than the individual’s memory of his experiences.

[3] I wish that it were possible to draw a simple contrast between myth and history. Myth — the past arranged, without any hampering inhibition, so as to suit the prejudice of its adherents, their national or religious loyalty or intolerance, their party feeling; history —the past shown as it really was. I have said too much, and you know too much before I said it, about the shortcomings and delinquencies of historians to pretend anything so childish. History and myth are almost inextricably5 mixed.

[4] What I do say is that it has always been the ideal of historians to separate the two and that in their attempts to make their accounts conform to demonstrable, palpable truth they have done an enormous amount of useful sifting and in one field after another helped intelligible order to overcome confusion. This order, however, will always retain an element of arbitrariness, because it is to some extent dependent on human minds. And such as it is, the history of the historian will have no more than a restricted influence of the community. Not only will the public’s notions on history always lag behind those of scholarship; there sometimes seems to be downright incapacity to adopt them, largely due, no doubt, to lack of attention, though often inattention is a disguise for active reluctance. Man, after all, is not governed by reason alone, and the myth, springing from affections or hatreds, has a vitality of its own. It is a form of life.

[5] When dealing with historical myths, traditions, or misconceptions, in the past, the historian has to accept them as manifestations of the politics or civilization of the generation to which they belong; he will extend to them the understanding, the discriminating sympathy that all manifestations of life claim from him. But the doctrine of the useful myth is, to him, of no application to the present. No doubt the historian can be so wrapped up in a myth of his own day that he does not recognize it as such; his history will suffer from it, but it does not necessarily destroy his excellence, or greatness, as a historian.

[6] And I think I may add that not I personally but all professional historians do possess a kind of familiarity with the past that should not be unheard in that great argument. We do not claim to have Clio’s only authentic message, but we know that we devote ourselves to the deciphering of it with a single-minded devotion. Enthusiasm and abstract thinking, too, are stating their case, supported, most likely, by mythical readings of the past. Even if we wanted to, we could not suppress those voices or prevent others from listening to them; we shall ourselves at times find in them delight and inspiration. Meanwhile, events will proceed on their mysterious course as they have always done, and to the shaping of it how much the past contributes, and how much the urge that is in man’s creative powers, we can only guess. But shall historians therefore keep silent? No, we must fulfill our function, which is, to the best of our ability, to show up the myths and tell the world all we can find about past reality — in short to promote legitimate use and check the abuse of history.

Notes

1....he must use his material by choosing from it: 对自己的素材要进行筛选。

2.Clio: (Greek mythology) Also spelled Kleio, the muse of history (历史女神)，daughter of Zeus. The name is etymologically derived from Greek meaning “to recount”“to make famous” or “to celebrate”.

3.as: in the way that. This sentence means that the members of the community use preserved historical materials when such materials suit them, and in ways that suit them.

4.erratic: having no fixed course

5.inextricably: inseparably

Questions for Further Thinking

1.“Behind the fact, behind the goddess History, there is a historian.” Figure out the meaning of this statement.

2.If historical records are problematic, what then are the responsibilities of the reader or the user of history?

3.Reflect on some Chinese myths and decide whether they carry any truth as is seen in the human society.

4.If one country’s history is written by an “outsider”, do you think he or she will do it more objectively? Why or why not?

5.“And I think I may add that not I personally but all professional historians do possess a kind of familiarity with the past that should not be unheard in that great argument.”What is the argument?

After-reading Assignment

Oral Work

1.Discuss the different functions of myth and history for mankind with your group members.

2.In the world, there are responsible and irresponsible countries in dealing with historical events. Make interviews to probe this issue, report your findings to your class and make some comments on your findings.

3.We all have watched historical TV series or historical movies. Some well-made historical TV series and movies have become a hit among the public while others may be regarded as “not serious” or “unfaithful to history”. Talk with your partner about one historical TV series you like and one you dislike. Exchange your ideas and then report your standards of a good historical TV series to your classmates.

4.When writing history, historians can be influenced by their subjectivity. Do you think that history readers or users can be influenced by their subjectivity per se? Relate to your own experience as a history learner and examine how your subjectivity may have influenced your learning. Tell your partner about it.

Written Work

1.Search the internet and collect from different sources the different accounts of certain historical events or historical figures of your own choice. Share your findings with classmates and evaluate them.

2.“Man, after all, is not governed by reason alone, and the myth, springing from affections or hatreds, has a vitality of its own. It is a form of life.” Compose an essay of 500 words analyzing any mythical stories that “spring” from affection and/or hatred.

3.Prepare an updated resume for yourself and try to develop it into a “history-like”account. Then ask your classmate to comment on it and see what effect it could bring.

4.Prepare a list of 5 historical events. Then, to each, add certain personal remarks by certain authors or important people. Work with your classmates and see if these remarks have any subjectivity or political tendency.