24min chapter

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#134 – Ian Morris on what big-picture history teaches us

80,000 Hours Podcast

CHAPTER

The Interplay of Individual and Historical Forces

This chapter examines how individual leaders and broader societal forces shape historical outcomes, using examples like Hitler and Lenin to illustrate the complexity of historical agency. It emphasizes the unpredictable nature of history and the influence of cultural and technological contexts on major events. Through discussions of pivotal figures and the impact of religious beliefs, the chapter reflects on the intertwined relationship between individual actions and the larger fabric of historical development.

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