The Choice of History and the History of Choice: A Study of Late Modern Russian Revolution and Reform

Author: Zhao Shiguo
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-10-01
Features: History is objectively existing and follows certain patterns. The development and change of history progress from backward to advanced, from barbarism to civilization, with a gradual acceleration in speed. This represents an overall trend. However, the process of history is not always smooth and steady; it has twists, setbacks, and at times, surges forward even leaps beyond, while sometimes it may stagnate or even break and disappear. Yet, in the face of the laws of historical development, humans are not entirely passive. People possess subjective initiative and historical creativity. Historical materialism holds that, "history is nothing more than the activity of people pursuing their own goals." Therefore, the of history does not exclude its. "The selectivity of history is the concrete manifestation of human's conscious choice ability, reflecting human's subjective initiative and historical creativity." In reality, the selectivity of history is embedded within its.