The followers of Plato and Aristotle thought they had a good understanding of the world, as did many scholars right through the medieval period, yet now we see how naïve many of their views were, and how much more complex the world really is. How naïve will some of our current scientific theories seem to our descendants a thousand years from now?
Our civilization (at least in the developed world) is appalled at earlier practices such as child labor, slavery, serfdom, drawing and quartering, human sacrifices, and the like. Yet at the time these were common, accepted practices – nothing to even comment on. What common practices do we all take for granted today that will horrify our descendants a thousand years from now?
No doubt the followers of ancient religions were just as sure they were right as followers of today’s religions are sure they have the truth. Yet the worship of Poseidon and Augusta and Athena and the various river gods and mountain gods and the like seem so dated, so naïve in today’s world. How naïve will our own religious beliefs seem to our descendents a thousand years from now?
In earlier times the general population subscribed to all manner of social and political beliefs which we no longer hold, such as the divine right of kings or the inherent superiority of men over women. What social and political beliefs do we accept that will seem outlandish and naïve to our descendants a thousand years from now?
It would take a large dose of hubris to look at all the naive and erroneous beliefs and assumptions of our ancestors revealed by a study of history, and yet believe that we ourselves are free from such errors and naiveté. The study of history ought to keep us humble, and give us clues to where our own current views and assumptions might be suspect.
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