Conclusion: The history of the future

Other Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Holbrook, Carolyn;Megarrity, Lyndon;Lowe, David
Abstract

[Extract] Historians are experienced time travellers. They have shown that we orient ourselves in the world by building narratives that frame meaning, that paint human endeavours on vibrant canvases, that suggest bigger stories in which we come and go. T hey also remind us that what might, at first glance, appear to be unquestionable interpretive themes, such as ‘progress’ or ‘development’, are in fact highly specific to circumstances and often overshadow other important concepts and behaviours we are prone to forget. To not question these apparently immovable paradigms is to invite only narrow possibilities for change. And to not question also risks what some in this collection have reminded us are the dangers of ‘path dependency’. It is easier and usually cheaper in the short term to continue down paths that are well marked, despite the social, economic and emotional costs that may already be evident to thoughtful observers.

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Lessons from History Leading historians tackle Australia’s greatest challenges

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9781742239323

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4

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NewSouth

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Sydney, NSW, Australia

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