Chapter 37 1. Starting point

On May 12, 2011, I visited Mr. Wu Jinglian in Shanghai and asked him some academic questions.Unexpectedly, at the end of the talk, Mr. Wu asked me a question in turn: How do you ensure that the history you said is true? The old gentleman is right! As far as I know, this is what many people want to ask, and it is not difficult to answer.But before that, we must first figure out why we have history or historiography. This is fundamental. Yes, why do we have history, why do we need to learn history, talk about history, and discuss history?For after-dinner conversation?There are all kinds of unofficial histories, jokes, hearsay and gossip, and it is not necessary to care whether it is true or not.In order to learn tactics and tactics, deal with interpersonal relationships, deal with Zhang San Li Si?It's enough to have something like that, and it doesn't matter if it's true or not.

Then, why are there always some people, even some of them, who attach great importance to the authenticity of history, and are more interested in positive stories than joking ones? Perhaps, the pursuit of truth is human nature. The truth has always been attractive, and it satisfies our inherent curiosity.This kind of curiosity even some animals have.For example, the cameras set up by the scientific expedition team to secretly take pictures in the Arctic Ocean, even though they are disguised as snow blocks, will be dismantled by polar bears, because they really want to know what it is.Small children will dismantle their own toys, too.

Curiosity is natural. In fact, curiosity is the starting point for almost all cultural and civilizational achievements. Science is curiosity about nature, art is curiosity about soul, religion is curiosity about destination, and literature is curiosity about life.Even witchcraft is the same, it is the curiosity of fate. What about history?