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

Author: Zhao Shiguo
Publisher:
Publishing Time: Not available
Features: History is objectively existing and follows certain patterns. The development and changes of history progress from backward to advanced, from barbarism to civilization, with a gradual acceleration in speed. This represents a general trend. However, the process of history is not always smooth and steady; it has twists, setbacks, and sometimes surges forward even leaps beyond, while at other times 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 merely the activity of people pursuing their own goals." Therefore, the lawfulness of history does not exclude its selectivity. "Historical selectivity is the concrete manifestation of human conscious choice, reflecting human subjective initiative and their creativity in history." In reality, historical selectivity is embedded within the lawfulness of history.