In this area of rapid social and technological change leading to increasing life complexity, dose looking back for an understanding of the past provide little guidance? I do not agree with this statement. Although a clear division is made between life of present and life of past, past can still provide useful information for today's life.
First of all, it is no wonder that there is a huge surplus of differences between present and past. And something belonged to past are not suitable for guiding today's life. Those differences display a wide divergence of factors, ranging from politics to economy to education and culture. For example, economic power resided in agriculture in the past. But after industry revolution, industry seized such power. Thus, many presents may be different from present. And Chinese Traditional Medicine presents a relevant case for analysis. Chinese people used Chinese Traditional Medicine for curing disease past. And this medicine really saved a huge surplus of lives in the past. However, many people also lost their lives because this medicine lacks of science. People should not continue to use Chinese Traditional Medicine before it has been tested by scientific measure. Because today we have science to test and use it which lacked in the past. This is an example of why something in the past can not guide today's life.
However, there is also a huge surplus of pasts can be used by present because of the same condition. Although there are struggles between life of present and life of past, principle of solving problem is still the same. Education presents a appropriate case to demonstrate. In the beginning of 19 century, Germany was not a unitive country. Hundreds of city-states existed in this area. But after a revolution in Germany, they not only consisted a whole country, but also is one of leaders in the world. Education played an important role in this process. In the end of 19 century, more than 97.5 percent students can receive education for free in the country. It was just education made Germany lead the second industry revolution in the world. Education also plays an significant role in the present. For example, the United Stated whose education is the leader of the world is the most advanced country in the world. Therefore, an understanding of the better education in the past can guide the life in the present because the right principle does not changes.
Another example of how past can give guidance for living in the present involves a book, The History of The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. It was written in the 18 century and record why Roman Empire incline and decline. The experience of Roman Empire can not only be useful in 18 century, but also give guidance to country in the present. Because the principle that how a country can be prosperous does not changes. Additionally, many enterprisers read the book to find how to help corporation.These are only two examples of why understanding of the past can provide guidance for living in the present.
Therefore, although some knowledges in the past are not suitable for guiding today's life, past can still be useful for present.
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