Elliot Ackerman on Storytelling and the Cyclical Nature of History
The Daily Stoic
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Cyclical vs. Linear History
✨Key takeaways:
- Hubristic view of history: assumes future is always different, past irrelevant.
- Cyclical view of history: world operates in cycles; humbleness is key; past is relevant.
Elliot Ackerman contrasts two philosophies of history:
- A linear view, where each generation breaks new ground and the past diminishes in importance. This, he suggests, is a more hubristic approach.
- A cyclical view, to which he subscribes, holds that history repeats itself. Acknowledging these cycles promotes humility and allows us to learn from past mistakes.
Ignoring the cyclical nature leads to repeating errors.
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Transcript
