The Study of History as an Art

The study of history is more an art than a science. Describe a specific situation in which the study of history might be more of a science than an art. Discuss what you think determines whether the study of history is more an art or a science. It is often said that those who fail to learn from the mistakes of history are doomed to repeat them. However, what is considered a "mistake" depends on the point of view of the historian or the source of the history lesson. Indeed, the study of history is more an art than a science. Unlike math or science, there is no one correct interpretation of history. The historian, as objective as he aims to be, will always bring in his biases and background into the analysis. Since each person is unique with varying experiences and education, the product of a historical study will differ from historian. Granted, not everything in the study of history is subjective. All historians, for example, agree on the dates of certain events. No one will contest the fact that Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492 or that World War II occurred between 1939 and 1945. Sometimes finding out when a historical event could be considered more as a science since there exist black and white techniques, such as carbon dating, that help facilitate that goal. However, the critical analysis of such events---for instance, why certain events occurred at the time that they did--is more of an art. Each historian has come from a unique place, having studied various interpretations in history and experienced different training in schools. What he chooses to include or exclude in his analysis is a matter of personal preference and bias. For example, a liberal-thinking historian might come up with a whole different take on matters related to 9-11 from one that is more conservative. Even two historians who agree on political and philosophical matters will each offer something different for minds to absorb. Like a good artist, an accomplished historian is able to demonstrate superb technical techniques. This includes an ability to effectively communicate his thoughts in the written word and absorb analysis from the different works used for research. The development of these skills is a work of art in itself since this type of critical thinking involves creativity and interpretation. One who approaches history from an entirely "scientific" point of view will not be able to inspire new thought and captivate his audience.