与历史有关的几个理论(2/6)

Thus, there have developed many schools of thought on the subject,

each of which attempts to give coherence to the human past

by fitting it into the framework of a theory of history.

Now, let's take a look at one of these theories,

it is assumed that man continually progress.

He has evolved from a lower to a higher form of being,

and he continues to evolve.

This evolution takes place both in terms of his potentials

and his abilities to actualize these potentials.

If one holds this theory,

one feels that modern man must be more intelligent and civilized today than his ancestors,

as well as physically and morally superior to them.

One further assumes that this progress will continue into an ever more glorious future.

Here deduction often ends and dreams of Utopia begin,

for it seems that most of us find it hard to think of

the human race developing into a race of angels.

All in all,

as theory of history,

the above view has had many eminent supporters.

It might be well to mention here a variation on this theory that used to be popular,

namely the idea that man rose from a low condition

to a Golden Age at some time in the remote past,

and that things have gone straight downhill ever since.

Many eminent men have found a sort of gloomy comfort in this idea,

but science has now opened up possibilities for the future

which make this theory less defendable.

Perhaps for this reason the theory has little modern support.