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Reaction Paper #1/2 In Carl Becker’s conclusion he unequivocally asserts the value of history as, “...not scientific but moral: by liberalizing the mind, by deepening the sympathies, by fortifying the will, it enables us to control, not society, but ourselves- a much more important thing; it prepares us to live more humanely in the present and to meet rather than foretell the future.” Becker’s concluding statement gives me the impression, that during this time in history, there must of been a number of emotionally charged, contentious, debates on the importance of understanding things scientifically within his field of study. I assume that Becker is a historian, but most importantly a humanitarian, and is outraged by Mr. Jane’s sense of wonder with the possibilities of applying the scientific method to enhance, even accelerate the progress of humanity in the social sphere. Becker’s statement suggest that history’s worth counts not as an instrument for measuring human progress for the sake of advancement, whether in the moral or material sense, but as a means for positive personal development at the individual level.
Approximate Word count = 630
Approximate Pages = 2.5
(250 words per page double spaced)
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