Historical Imagination
The use of history to inform our vision of the future
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We have studied the rise of famous civilizations. Now, we will utilize what we have learned, as well as
what a famous historian named Collingwood called historical imagination, to make some forecasts about
our future.
In one or two paragraphs (totaling at least 250 words), address at least one of the following questions:
Do you think civilization is worth the price in blood and treasure?
Are cultures that do not have cities inherently better off?
Are we destined to live in cities forever?
How can humans enjoy the benefits of urban life without crowding, crime, and alienation?
How can we use history to inform our vision of the future?
The use of history to inform our vision of the future
History is not only concerning the past, but it also refers to a thought process, a body of
knowledge, the discipline of mind and a subject matter. The thought process includes coming up
with questions, writing narratives, critiquing narratives that are written by others, discerning
pattern in the evidence and marshalling evidence. All these history are used to prolong the
process of historical intellectual into the subject matter domain in future. It helps to breach the
most rigid barrier of discipline. Historians are being urged not only to predict the future basing
on science but also in terms of scenarios. The students of history are engaging in activities that
were performed by historians thus gaining evidence and knowledge to support the future through
interpretation of the nature of history. The history is being extended past process of thought to
the subjects beyond the diplomacy, war, politics and great men’s decisions (Ciuraru, 2009).
The use of scientific history can help in nurturing scientific mindset to predict and control
the science defining characteristics. The astronomers and physicists can predict the definitive
future of science as a result of prediction of the collision of bodies on earth and movement of
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heavenly bodies. The application of social theories and science methods to a human world is
raising the degree of success. Its application in political science, economy and sociology is
raising predictive and mathematical perspectives in orientation. The future prediction is also used
in government to aid in making the decision in policy making. The enhancing industrialization of
the nation, there should be the diffusion of futurism in various fields. It includes technical
experts, academics, policy study groups, pundit of short service on advisory boards, working
scientists and public commissions that aid in information development.
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Reference
Ciuraru, C. (2009, Jun 16). The American future: A history. The Christian Science
Monitor Retrieved
