西医学Models for Understand history

2021年1月19日发(作者：aetos)
unit4
Models for Understanding History
理解历史的模式

Underlying
every
textbook
and
every
historical
work
are
a
set
of
often
un-acknowledged
assumptions about how history works. Everyone who writes, reads, or thinks about history has a
“
model
”

in their mind which helps them to interpret and assemble the facts of history. These
“
models
”

can be sorted into three broad categories.(
基本上所有的课本和历史相关的作品都
是 一系列常常不被承认的关于历史怎样发展的假设。
每个写历史、
读历史或是思考历史的人
在脑海中都有一个模型
,
用以帮助他们说明和收集历史的真相。这些模型可以被分为三大类。
)

Model
A
is
the
dominant
model
for
historians
in
the
20th
century.
There
is
a
widespread
and
almost
unshakable
belief
that
the
history
of
mankind
is
a
record
of
progress
and
that
future
prospects are bright. There are a number of comforting implications that come with adopting this
view. It
’
s very flattering to oneself and one
’
s contemporaries, since by implication everyone
currently alive has made progress over all those folks who are dead. It also allows one to face the
future with optimism, since as more time passes, more progress will be made. One can see this
model clearly in the 19th century German historians such as Hegel, who saw all of history leading
up to its fulfillment in the unified German state of Bismarck with Kaiser (Emperor) Wilhelm.
模型
A
对于
20
世纪历史 学家是最重要的。有一个广泛而基本固定的看法
,
人类的历史是一个进步
的记录
,
而且未来的前景是光明的。很多令人欣慰的结果伴随着这种看法产生。由于当前活
着的人已 经使进步超过了那些死去的人
,
这使人及其同辈感到荣幸。它让人们乐观地面对将
来< br>,
当更多的时间过去
,
会有更多的进步产生。
人们可以通过
1 9
世纪海格尔等德国历史学家同
当时的德国皇帝一起见证了历史导致德国在俾斯麦岛实现统一的 历史
,
清楚地看到这个模
型。


Marxist historians use this model as well, seeing the past as the unfolding struggle between the
classes In which first the bourgeoisie and then the proletariat triumph over the nobility. But of
course, there is a great deal of American history written to fit this mold, too. Those who believe
in an
“
evolving
”

Constitution see all change as positive and therefore, the more time, the more
changes, the better our Constitution will be.(
马克思主义历史学家 也采用了这种模式，他们把
过去看作是阶级之间正在展开的斗争，首先是资产阶级，然后是无产阶级战胜 了贵族阶级。
当然，也有很多美国历史按照这个模型被书写。那些相信“逐步发展”的宪法的人
,
乐观地
看待所有的变化
,
因而
,
时间越多
,改变越多
,
我们的宪法会更完善。
)

But
there
are
other
models.
And
the
question
is
not
which
model
is
most
comforting
and
reassuring, but which best fits the facts.(
然而也有其他的模型。并且问题不在于哪个模型是最
令人安慰放心的
,
而是哪个最符 合事实。
)

Many of the Greek and Roman historians subscribed to Model B. Tey looked back in the past and
saw a
“
golden age
”

with fewer problems than their own. It seemed to them that things were
getting worse over time and that the prospects for the future were grim. There is a certain sense
in which this model fits the outl ines of Scripture. We certainly haven
’
t risen above the level of
our first parents, Adam and Eve, so the broad line from Paradise can only trend downward. On
the other hand, one can definitely trace progress and improvement through God
’
s covenants
with Noah, Abraham, Moses, and their fulfillment in Jesus. But against this, one must weigh the
prophecies of Revelation which predict widespread war and tribulation prior to Jesus
’

return.(很
多希腊和罗马的历史学家赞同模型
B
。
他们回望过去
,
看到了一个比自己这个时代问题更少的
“黄金时期”
。
似乎在他们看来
,< br>随着时间的推移事物会变得更糟
,
未来的前景令人沮丧。
有一
点可以确 定
,
这个模型符合圣经的概述。我们当然不可能超过我们的第一代父母亚当和夏娃
的水 平
,
所以来自天堂的宽广接线只能下降。另一方面
,
我们可以通过上帝与Noah,
Abraham,
Moses
的约定以及他们对耶稣的影响清楚地 记述进程和进步。但是相反
,
人们必须衡量被披
露的预言所预示的广泛的战争和苦难的 时期
,
直到耶稣的回归。
)

In
truth,
history
is
complicated.
It
is
more
complicated
than
the
simple
lines
in
Model
A
and
Model B. It more closely resembles Model C. Periods of accomplishment are followed by periods
of decay. In fact,
“
progress
”

is mostly a myth. There is nothing inevitable about it. The idea that
the simple passage of time will allow things to improve flies in the face of experience. If you let
time pass, will the dishes get washed, will rooms get cleaned, or will your car run better? The
truth is that things deteriorate and decay with age.(
事实上
,
历史 是复杂的。
它比模型
A
和模型
B
的简单描述更为复杂。它更接近于模 型
C
。紧接着辉煌时期的是衰落时期。实际上
,
“进步”
基本上是个 神话。
这是不可避免的。
实践的简单推移会使事物改进的想法与经验不符。
如果
你让时间流逝
,
餐盘会被清洗吗
,
房间会被打扫吗
,
你的 汽车会形式的更好吗
?
真相是事物会随
着时间的推移恶化、衰退。
)

The
periods
of
progress
and
achievement
are
the
exceptions
and
not
the
rule.
There
are
remarkable
periods
scattered
through
history
in
which
a
group
of
men
or
a
generation
seem
(perhaps
supernaturally?)
empowered
to
reverse
the
trends
and
to
make
remarkable
achievements. Sometimes it is in literature, sometimes it is in science, sometimes it is in politics,
sometimes it is in art or music. But inevitably, after a period of achievement, a long, slow period
of decay sets in.(
进步和成就的时期是例外< br>,
而非规则。非凡的时期分布在历史的进程中
,
在那
些时期一组人或者 一代人似乎
【也许是超自然】
被赋予扭转趋势并取得非凡成就的力量。
它
有时 在文学中
,
有时在科学中
,
有时在政治中
,
有时在艺术或音 乐中。
但无法避免的是
,
一个辉煌
的时期之后
,
一个漫长的 衰退的时期就会开始。
)

With this in mind, an analysis of the history of political institutions can be a little unsettling. The
Greek
city-states,
in
a
burst
of
creativity
around
eight
or
nine
hundred
years
before
Christ,
created a variety of city constitutions that served them admirably for generations. But over time,
the
cities
seemed
to
become
more
and
more
unworkable
and
their
leaders
became
corrupt.
Eventually, most of the Greek cities were ruled by tyrants. They ended by being conquered first by
the Macedonian armies of Alexander, and then by the Romans. The Romans likewise created an
admirable
republic
about
500
B.C.
But
over
time
it
developed
more
and
more
problems,
and
eventually succumbed to the military dictators who called themselves Emperors and gods.(
抱着
这种想法
,
一个对于政治机构 历史的分析会有些不稳定。希腊城邦在公元前
8
或
9
世纪突然
产生< br>,
创造了各种城市结构
,
很好地提供给后代人。
但随着时间的推移,
城邦似乎变得越来越行
不通
,
而且它们的首领变得腐败。最后
,
多数希腊城邦被暴君统治。它们以先后被亚历山大的
马其顿军队和罗马人占领而终结。罗马人 在公元前
500
年同样建造了一个值得称赞的共和