There are four main theories for explaining history. These include Linear, Cyclic, Hegelian, Vortex theories. History is the study of past human events so that people can discover their causes and plan for the future. By studying history we can better predict reoccurrences and important events (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History). Out of the four theories I believe that the Vortex theory best describes how history works in the world. I will briefly explain each theory and provide some examples to back up my decision.
The first type of history is linear history. This type of history is similar to a time line. Something occurs and then something else occurs after the first. The two occurrences are linked because the second occurrence happened because the first occurrence took place or there was a cause and than its effect occurred after. This type of history is more commonly accepted in the West. The implication of this theory is that we only have one chance to do things right and this idea is also backed up in Christian religious teaching and in the Holy Bible which does not believe in reincarnation. This idea is not universal among all people. I do not believe that this is the correct type of history because it does not account for why the historical instances occur when they do (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophy_of_history).
The second type of history is cyclic history. This type of history has a repeating cycle of occurrences. This theory is more common is the East. In some cultures cyclical history is not only the reoccurrence of events, it also can include reincarnation. This means that a person is born, dies, and then is reincarnated into another body. With this theory of history it is impossible to decide where it should begin. This is why it is a never ending repeating cycle. It is impossible to tell if you are born first because you cannot be born without being reincarnated, you cannot be reincarnated without dying, and you cannot die without being born. The implication of this theory is that people can be reborn until they do right in the world and this is backed up by the Buda’s teachings and India’s ancient calendar made up of four ages that make up the Great Year. The Great Year is said to last over 4 million normal solar years and is characterized by growth in the power of evil. Human experiences can be similar which makes us think that history is repeating itself, when it really is not. I do not believe that cyclical history is the correct type of history because it has little evidence in its favor (http://www.hyperhistory.net/apwh/essays/comp/cw01cyclicalhistorylinear.htm).
The third type of history is Hegelian’s theory of history. This theory was thought of by German the philosopher and also historian, George Frederick Hegel (see #1 picture on the left from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SBZ_1948_225_Georg_Wilhelm_Friedrich_Hegel.jpg). This theory uses a
n equation to explain his history. It is Thesis + Antithesis = Synthesis. This theory shows that a situation leads to another situation and those two situations lead to one out of many possible outcomes. The implication of this theory is that a small occurrence can add up to create a much larger outcome that affects history its self. An example of this was when Hegel explained the Louis XVI’s rule over France is a thesis which leads to the French Revolution. That war was the antithesis and both of those created the synthesis of Napoleon reconciling the revolution (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thesis,_antithesis,_synthesis). The fourth type of history is the vortex theory. I think that the theory of history as a vortex is correct because history acts more like what this theory describes. That idea of history can be explained by a funnel. At a specific time the funnel begins to get wider. It will continue to grow until it reaches its maximum size. After that is will get skinnier and skinnier until it stops shrinking. Then is continues to grow larger again. This was thought of by William Butler Yeats (see # 2 picture on the left from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:William_Butler_Yeats_1.jpg) and is similar to what happens to an acco
rdion. It took William Butler Yeats many years to put together his hypothesis so that is could be accepted by the world. It explains that history goes from larger to smaller events and then larger or even smaller to larger and then smaller. This is like how the Roman Empire was nonexistent, became a superpower, and then fell. The empire goes from small to large and then small. The implication of this theory is all of man’s civilizations are founded, grow, and then when it is their time they will collapse because nothing can stay the same forever. The flocculations of civilizations show the high and low points of the vortex and is always changing (http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/57550/william_butler_yeats_gyre_system.html?cat=38.associatedcontent.com/article/57550/william_butler_yeats_gyre_system.html?cat=38).
All of the theories have a different way to explain how history works. The linear theory of history explains that history is a line with a beginning and end that does not repeat. The cyclical theory of history explains that history is either a repeating circle of life or in some religions different stages in a long calendar. The Hegel theory of history explains that history starts with two related events that can form many possible outcomes. Finally the vortex theory of history explains that history is not something that repeats or is a line but is an accordion that shows the high and low points of civilization in the world. I believe that the vortex theory is the most accurate of all the theories because it describes consistently what happens to civilizations and explains their beginning, growth, and collapse. I don't believe that a circle with repeating cycles could describe this type of history or even a straight line with a beginning, middle, and end because they leave out the smaller details like the flocculation of human civilizations including their growth and collapse. I believe that Hegel’s theory also cannot properly describe history because his theory only explains how two related occurrences and lead to an outcome. The importance of Hegel’s hypothesis continues to affect our way of thinking to this day.
Sources:
Cyclical and Linear History. Web. 27 Jan. 2010.<http://www.hyperhistory.net/apwh/essays/comp/cw01cyclicalhistorylinear.htm>.
History. Web. 27 Jan. 2010.<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History>.
Thesis, antithesis, synthesis. Web. 27 Jan. 2010.<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thesis,_antithesis,_synthesis>.
William Butler Yeats' Gyre System. Web. 27 Jan. 2010.<http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/57550/william_butler_yeats_gyre_system.html?cat=38>
Picture source:
SBZ 1948 225 Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel.jpg. Web. 27 Jan. 2010.<http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SBZ_1948_225_Georg_Wilhelm_Friedrich_Hegel.jpg>
William Butler Yeats 1.jpg. Web. 27 Jan. 2010.<http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:William_Butler_Yeats_1.jpg>
Fantastic job. Nice work with the citations. One thing I would suggest is going beyond using the encyclopedia to finding primary sources and scholarship.
ReplyDeleteAnd think about ways to vary your prose; the beginnings of your paragraphs are a bit stilted.
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