Submitted by Maxwellsdemon17 t3_y75g2l in philosophy
And herein lies the issue with the people who view “Great Man Theory” as some evil.
The alternative is boring, dry history with unfocused stories that no one really remembers or cares about
>The alternative is boring, dry history with unfocused stories that no one really remembers or cares about
That is not true. There are many alternatives and each one has their pros and cons. Problem or solution orientated history is much more interesting than hearing what charles Dick the 5th has done in his life. I would rather read about how London solved their wastewater issue than hearing about the deeds of some random dude who played some part in it. Chronological history can sometimes be very boring, as there is no inherent storytelling involved. But luckily you are able to combine several approaches.
Unfortunately, it is true.
You think the story of London’s world-changing sewage system is most effectively told through the lens of a guy digging the hole?
The fellow who, despite public opinion being against him, managed to get it done takes a back seat to that? What story are you telling here?
Anyway, you retain the Great Man approach her too.
>Anyway, you retain the Great Man approach her too.
Please dont lay words in my motuh? I accept it as one of many tools. I say that a nail needs a hammer. But different things need different tools.
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>You think the story of London’s world-changing sewage system is most effectively told through the lens of a guy digging the hole?
No. I never proposed that. Depending on what you goal is and what you want to tell your lens should vary. So if you want to tell people about innovation and how to deal with limited space/resources then its most effective to tell a problem/solution orientated story. For example it will begin with the Problem, how they perceive that problem, what resources they had, what was tried and what worked. The process of all those decisions is what matters. It really does not matter that one big guy that politically supported it despite public opinion. Such Drama only distracts from the problem solving aspect that the story want to effectivly tell.
On the other hand if you want to educate people about holding on to good ideas, then it is a good way to tell the story like that. Because then the goal changes. The actually process of finding the right solution matters less, because the goal is not one of an engineer but one of an activist.
We need heroes for inspiration until we learn to become our own hero.
Everyone being their own hero really sums up our modern malaise to me
It'd probably work as long as people remembered they have to do heroic things to be a hero, rather than just being awarded it as a right.
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