Historically Thinking

Stephen Aron and Barry Strauss on History, Engaging a Wider Public, and Intellectual Humility

10 snips
Jun 4, 2025
Stephen Aron, Professor Emeritus at UCLA and CEO of the Autry Museum, explores the bridging of academic and public history, focusing on the narratives of frontiers and borderlands. Barry Strauss, a distinguished scholar at Cornell, discusses the complexities of interpreting ancient history and the interplay of war, leadership, and historiography. They emphasize the importance of intellectual humility and navigating the challenges of presenting historical narratives that engage wider audiences, all while advocating for questioning rather than lecturing in museum settings.
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ANECDOTE

Discovery of Two Emily Dickinsons

  • Stephen Aron discovered two Emily Dickinsons in 19th-century Amherst during his senior thesis research.
  • This revelation sparked his passion for history and illustrated the limitations of historical knowledge.
INSIGHT

Museum Exhibits Should Pose Questions

  • Authentic historical exhibits pose questions rather than deliver simple answers.
  • This approach invites visitors to engage thoughtfully with the past, beyond receiving fixed narratives.
INSIGHT

Historians Better at Past Than Future

  • History offers more clarity about the past than reliable foresight about the future.
  • Historians must embrace humility about the limits of their predictive power.
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