Why History?

A good number of my friends (not to mention my parents) have accosted me on the subject of my preferred course of study. History, after all, is that dry, boring subject where all you ever do is read reams and reams about everyone's mistakes, which promptly is ignored by everyone in policymaking anyway. More commonly I have received the infamous "So What Are You Going To Do With A History Degree?"

I feel obligated, then, to defend both the discipline and my choice to study it.

• Why History Interests Me
• Why American History Interests Me
• What I Can Do With a History Degree
• My Philosophy of History

Although it sounds melodramatic, my interest in history is grounded in my interest in the liberal arts. While I maintain great respect for the pure and applied sciences, as a humanist, I believe the human equation is the most important when pursuing the realization of human potential. The liberal arts education, as the study of humankind, is best realized through the study of history.

The major and minor accomplishments and defeats in all areas of human interest are intrinsic to the study of history. The common bonds of humanity-- across different cultures and backgrounds-- is found within the various developments in engineering and the pure sciences, in literature and music, and in economics and political science. As tools in this study, one utilizes sociology and psychology, anthropology and archaeology, statistics-- and philosophy.

I am less interested in the study of "what happens" or "how things happen" than in the study of "why things happen." The line is fine, but it is what makes history the prime humanity (at least in my humble opinion) in the same way mathematics might be termed the prime science. Credible scholars in every other field focus on the "what" and "how" that is only understood in the context of the "why"; why not, then, save time and devote my $100,000 education to the very study of events and interdisciplinary epochs?

Obviously, my interest in American cultural history lies in an interest in American culture. This admittedly contains a small chauvinistic element, but I would like to study American culture critically and contrast her development against that of other civilizations. Since Cornell has a strong history department, I judge America as a construct will be made known to me well (and these approaches I might then apply to other areas of interest). Otherwise, I'll simply be stuck subscribing to The Economist and watching Russian news on C-SPAN to get a glimpse at the inside from without.

Who could be uninterested in America as a construct? There is a distinctive American culture that has developed over the last few hundred years, most particularly in the past century. American culture is so unique that the nations most often compared to the U.S.-- Canada, Brazil, and Australia-- could never be confused with her.

True, every people on earth has a distinct and fascinating culture. The United States, however, is the most significant nation peopled almost entirely by immigrants, and American culture is greater than the sum of its eclectic foreign heritage. Why is a country founded on the principle of religious freedom (and which has adopted separation of Church and State) the most religious in the world? Why are individualism, independence, and entrepreneurialism so strong? How and why did unique institutions (such as the fraternity system) arise? Such questions by their nature do not often arise in the study of other areas.

Again not wanting to sound any more overdramatic, I will point out that the study of history is one which involves much critical thinking, writing, and research. In it one comes into contact with the particular comedia and tragedia of the human condition. While I have not decided whether I will pursue a Ph.D. in the field, a history degree will be good preparation for law school. Back to the top of the page

My Philosophy of History