When history conflicts, how do you know decide what to believe?

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   dianetrotterposted 11 years ago

   When history conflicts, how do you know decide what to believe?

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2. 69

   JMcFarlandposted 11 years ago

   you have to examine the source, determine the source's credibility, ascertain existing bias, and ultimately do more research into discovering the truth.  Since history is often written by the victorious, it is often skewed.  There is, however, often a consensus among unbiased historians as to what actually took place, and until further evidence presents itself to clarify the position further, it is safe to assume that the consensus is most likely correct.

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   1. 61

      dianetrotterposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      True!  Would you say that Columbus discovered America?

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      JMcFarlandposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I would say that its wholly impossible to discover something where other people have already lived for hundreds of thousands of years

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      dianetrotterposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      JMc, I haven't looked at history textbooks lately but I do hope they have modified the information.  When we know better we should do better.  Thanks JMc!

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   Taleb80posted 11 years ago

   I think that everyone writes the history depending on his believes, loyalty, impression & the available information.
   Actually, your question is very difficult, what I think that reading the history is not a target itself, but understanding its lessons is the important.
   So read from many resources & try to take a lesson from any scenario, whatever the scenarios were different.

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4. 86

   tamarawilhiteposted 11 years ago

   The facts are the same, if not always known. It is the interpretations that vary. You should believe any unbiased reporters (not all liberal reporters are unbiased) such as third party observers first.

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   1. 61

      dianetrotterposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I think the Internet helps us to look at diverse points of view.  When I was in school, all we had was the textbook and the teacher.

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      JMcFarlandposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I'm not sure that the internet is always a reliable source of information.  It's important to cross-check and reference things prior to just believing what you read, whether it's in a book, in a classroom or on the internet.

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      dianetrotterposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Absolutely JMc.  You have to know how to validate sources.  The thing is that everything is at your finger tips as opposed to sitting on library shelves.  The site's value is dependent on the creators and info disseminators.

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      JMcFarlandposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      you also have to consider bias.  Those with a theistic swing are biased in one direction, and one with a purely atheistic swing may be biased in the other direction.

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      dianetrotterposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Ah!  JMc, did you really say that!  :

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   CertifiedHandyposted 11 years ago

   History is the written past of nations, things , people, anything within reality. If it is real to you it has a history. In order for conflict to occur it needs something to conflict with. You present an incomplete question. Historians may have conflicting views or beliefs but to say history "conflicts" presents a rational or logical problem.

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   1. 61

      dianetrotterposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I was taught that Christians came to America because they wanted freedom to practice their religion.  While teaching at a school in a Jewish community, I overheard a teacher tell students that Christians came to America to spread their religion. 1 ex

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