Introduction
Is there something like society and history?
What can historians and social scientists say about history and society?
What are the main differences between realistic and idealistic perspectives?
These were some questions posed by Professor. Angela Schwarz in years 2017. There can be multiple answers to the above questions, which can be pluralise based on the individual scholar, philosophical or scientific dimension. In a holistic context, it can be observed that society and history are interconnected as living concepts. In light of this, the questions can be fully understood in the context of their relationship. Thus, there is a need to elaborate it by asking additional rational questions: What relationship exists between society and history? What is the importance of history in society? How can history be pass from generation to generation? There is a need to look at the terms separately and their relationships for a comprehensive grasp, considering what should come first. The task here is to prove their existence holistically. First, answers may not be satisfying; however, it begins with the assertion that society is the mother of history. In this case, society predicts history and explain its existence. It is so because, without society, there may not be history.
Society
The word ‘society’ is from the 12th Century French ‘Société’ meaning ‘company’, and the Latin word ‘Societas’ is derived from the noun ‘socius’ used to describe a bond or interaction between friendly parties. In view of George Douglas and Haward Cole, society is seen as a complex organised social relationship, associations and institutions within the community and society which can be viewed as a group of individuals characterised by a common interest, organised, and associated together for; religion, culture, economic, social and political activities which are essential for social interaction. The need and desire to be in close contact with individuals to maintain harmony and peaceful co-existence, which is one of the goals of human life, can only be attained through society. Given this, it can be seen without an optical instrument that society exists, the home of history. The interrelationship between individual social activities constitutes history. Diverse societies seek cooperation to establish world peace—all these factors, controlled by society, made up history. These social instruments are formed in other to satisfy human needs in terms of physical, mental, or spiritual wellbeing in tackling obstacles, obstructions, providing solutions to human needs and at the same time maintain a peaceful social life. In doing so, problematic issues might arise that could lead to crisis and generate greater awareness, leading to significant events that are later translated to generations to come using sociological, political, democratic and historical instruments in preserving these events for historical purposes.
History
It is always impossible to give one universal definition of a term by different scholars in diverse fields of studies in academics due to the critical orientations of the schools of thought with arguments that lead to a better, more comprehensive understanding of that which is to be defined. The arguments concerning a suitable definition invoke more scepticism and structural reflection about what it is rather than what it may be. One importance of history is that it plays a fundamental role in human thought by invoking notions, circumstances of human affairs, past events. Doing so helps in learning from the past to understand the present and envision the future. The reflections of these teams comprising analyses and arguments of idealists, sociologists, philosophers, scientists, logicians, theologians and historians are then put together in the present language to suit the present generation in the language they understand. Historians, in this sense, use their practical tools to engage in pragmatic dialogue between the present and the past periods concerning major events on religion, civilisation, social structure, crisis, laws, revolution, individual actions, kingship, inventions, social actors and culture. These are the few ingredients available to my pen now which makes up history. When we look back to the past moments and realise that we have come quite a long way, we must agree that there must be something called history. Even if there exists another name for these past events, permit me to call it ‘Tocos‘, there is still the realism that once upon a time these events came to be just like a TV Series 2011 of a beautiful young woman with a troubled past is drawn into a small town in Maine where fairy tales are to be believed, a series created by; Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis in 2011. Adam Horowitz, a producer, and writer, known for many series like; (Lost – 2004); The Survival of a plane crash were all forced to work together to survive on a seemingly deserted tropical Island. In trying to explain details concerning history with Adam Horowitz is not a complete diversion from the existence of history to adventure, the imagination of actors and producers which are also parts of historical events.
Defining history first with the view of Stephen as “a nightmare from which I am trying to awake” (Ellmann, Hussey & Whitmore 1982 p. 34). In the philosophical school of thought, history is defined and well elaborated as the first foundation of all events, which are recitals to the children, transmitted afterwards from one generation to another. Voltaire (1694 – 1778), also view historical origin to the very most probable when they do not shock common sense, and they lose one degree of probability in each generation. A definition from the historical perspective according to Hallet (1961) shows that history is a dialogue between the present and the past. Undoubtedly, the possibility of one working definition of a term is impossible by scholars; unlike fixed mathematical formulas, the refusal and criticism give no confusion but open more corridors of understanding of a concept or term. With this evidence, it can be observed that there exists history and as well as society. The two cannot work without each other, just like the September 9/11 attack is now in history and took place in the society, which is the home of history. This event is a practical example to the next generation; historians uses these events in society, the home of history, and these events are historical facts, except the next generation choose to call it another name for reasons yet to be known.
What can Historians and Social Scientists say about History and Society?
What historians and social scientists say concerning history and society is how they engage in different methodologies and theories for interpreting history and the society, their communication with the past, bringing messages to the present generation in the language they will understand. What historians and social scientists can say about history and society can only be seen in how they go about their business in analysing historical concepts in society as historians and social scientists do not arrest criminals, perform miracles or heart operations. Historians and social scientists are more concerned about documentation and interpretation of historical events, paying close attention to the nature of the society itself, human lives by elucidating social concepts in a rigorous form. The interpretation of these concepts comes with arguments, criticism, agreement, and disagreement in epistemological forms. These reflections are carried out symbolically and in language forms. Here language serves as an object in mind, a reservoir of culture, tradition and the medium in and through which we exist and perceive our world. Furthermore, historians explain history from the angle of its role in bringing to light past events, which help us understand people and the society which is essential for the present generation and the generation to come.
Differences Between Realistic and Idealistic Perspectives
In differentiating realistic from idealistic perspectives, first, it is recommended to have a thorough understanding of the two terms: realistic and idealistic. It is always better to start with idealistic to arrive at reality, significant realists however argue that ideas come later.
Idealistic Perspective: An idealistic perspective is envisioning, imagination as a future possibility, an idea that sometimes leads to practical ends. Idealism is a famous philosophical theory and can be traced back to some notable philosophers like Immanuel Kant. Rene Descartes’s idealism focused on sceptical thinking in his ‘methodic doubt’ where the word ‘I think therefore I am’ was derived. Here Descartes doubted everything, including his existence, but in the end, he arrived at a point of reclaiming and acknowledging his existence, his presence in the physical universe. The term idealism cannot be discussed without Plato. In Plato’s idealism, it comes to the understanding that idea alone is not reliable in the real world; Plato’s idealism is well outlined in his ‘ideal state’ where he visualised the real ‘world of the form’, a place where reality exists. Idealistic perspective represents ‘what could be’ rather than ’what it is’, just like the heavenly universe, a paradise of hope the Christian Holy Bible outlined to be everlasting. Christians and Muslims believe in paradise with the idea which will come to pass in reality, the idea Jesus proclaim on the cross, “And Jesus said to him, Truly I tell you today, you will be with me in Paradise”, which all Christian see as reality Ankerberg & Weldon (2005). Also, See Luke 23:43. New (Translation of the Holy Scriptures. Rendered from the original languages by the New World Bible Translation Committee – Revised 2013 p. 1421).
Realistic Perspective: On the other hand, a realistic perspective can be equated with realism in the philosophical doctrine, opposed to idealism. Realism is concerned with the actual or factual as distinguished from the abstract speculations. Realism is expressed as being accurate, seen as the fact that is observable in the real world. To rely on the idealistic notion is misleading because not all ideas or assumptions are factual or realised pragmatically. In science, on the other hand, a realistic perspective is more of a two-sided concept. Viewing from Lisa Bortolotti (2008) perspective on the question of how many objects exist? and which object exists? are both idealistic and at the same time realistic perspectives. The furniture, as he explained, is a natural object while molecules are not. Molecules are invisible elements; at times, it cannot be proved if they exist in reality. I, however, humbly disagree with Putnam’s (1974) idea of the exact text that both what we see and what we cannot see is true. There are numerous objects in existence in the physical world, and they can be perceived; instead, in idealism, there are numerous conceivable metaphysical objects or things, yet they are perceived by humans envision but they do not exist in reality. The significant difference between realistic and idealistic perspectives is that idealistic perspective is not always reliable, practical in the real world. However, a realistic perspective tends to be more positive and practical, yet some lack certainty and then, the two terms at times work together just like history and society.
Conclusion
The answers to the questions, as earlier stated, are not always favourably to all school of thought in the history of intellectual tradition. These sensitive questions are all contained in sociology, history, culture, anthropology, philosophy and other academic debates to address clarity. It is always based on an individual scholar to choose how to answer these questions. These questions tend to one direction but are critical. For example, in history, historians are more concerned with facts, sources, evidence, archaeology, and culture in arriving at a particular point and these are all carried out in the society, the home of history. Differentiating idealistic from a realistic perspectives is another core issue more philosophical, and the question of which to come first must not be ignored. In realism, even when we do not think of something, there must be another being who think about that which exists somewhere. It is an idea like in the creation story; it was believed that God, after creating everything including Adam, God had a thought and “Then Jehovah God said: it is not good for a man to be alone. I am going to make a helper for him, as a complement of him”—genesis 2:18 New Translation of the Holy Scriptures. Rendered from the original languages by the New World Bible Translation Committee – Revised 2013, p. 45.
Therefore, any human who believes in the creation story and the Holy Bible may agree that idealism started right from creation; it started with the creator according to the bible. God had a thought in his mind, an idea which God manifested practically and realistically when he created Eve. This idealistic perspective is what I call a ‘perfective idea’. This idea is totally against the scientific idea that the outcome sometimes does not result in the conceived idea. From the realistic perspective, some philosophers opposed idealism’s doctrine, believing that objects exist independently of their being perceived. A realistic perspective is viewing things to be true in reality, involving practicality ends and showing sensible and practical skills and the idea of what can be achieved or expected to be achieved. Nevertheless, I cannot entirely agree with some realists who opposed idealism since realism cannot be achieved without an idea in the mind. Finally, society is home to history; history is always documented, preserved, and transmitted by historians to the next generation. Historians also use idealistic and realistic perfective to actualise their goal for the usefulness of humanity.
References/further reading
Ankerberg, J., & Weldon, J. (2005). The Jehovah’s Witnesses’ New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures–Part
Ellmann, R., Hussey, M., & Whitmore, G. (1982). James Joyce (p.
365). Sussex Publications
Genesis 2:18 New Translation of the Holy Scriptures. Rendered from the original languages by the New World Bible Translation Committee – Revised 2013 P. 45. (6)
Hirst, kris. (2021). "What Is History?" ThoughtCo, thoughtco.com/what-is-history-collection-of-definitions-171282.
New Translation of the Holy Scriptures. Rendered from the original languages by the New World Bible Translation Committee – Revised 2013 P. 1421. (5)
Perkins, T. M. (1984). Isocrates and Plato: Relativism vs. idealism. Southern Speech Communication Journal, 50(1), 49-66
Mueller, G. E. (1935). Plato’s Dialectical Idealism. The Monist, 45(2), 199-219
Putnam, H. (1974). Meaning and reference. The journal of philosophy, 70(19), 699-711.
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