I had this feeling that, somehow, we ought to be teaching not just the history of particular nations or particular regions, but the history of humanity.
David ChristianRead
I believe human beings mark a threshold in the development of the planet, of course, but it is only part of the picture. What Big History can do is show us the nature of our complexity and fragility and the dangers that face us, but it can also show us our power, with collective learning.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights humanity's role in the evolution of the planet and emphasizes our capacity for collective learning and awareness of both our strengths and vulnerabilities.
David Christian's quote reflects on the complexity and fragility of human existence within the context of 'Big History,' which encompasses a broad understanding of the past that includes natural and human processes. The quote suggests that while humans represent a significant development in the planet's history, it is crucial to recognize both the challenges we face and the power of our collective learning to address those challenges, pointing to the dual nature of our existence as both powerful and precarious.
Themes
HumanityComplexityFragilityCollective LearningBig History
In practice
Example use cases
In a lecture on environmental science, this quote could illustrate the importance of understanding our impact on the planet.
More from David Christian
All quotes →If, in schools, we keep teaching that history is divided into American history and Chinese history and Russian history and Australian history, we're teaching kids that they are divided into tribes. And we're failing to teach them that we also, as human beings, share problems that we need to work together with.
David ChristianRead
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