Here at the outset, I should like to emphasize to my esteemed brothersand sisters that my knowledge of the study of history as element in thecontemporary social sciences is very limited. Yet, by making this admissionbefore you, perhaps I can make my excuses early for aslung too many questions,or for putting into words some of the major difficulties I have with this subject,and perhaps others have as well.Indeed, when we think of this important branch of knowledge a numberof issues immediately come to mind. Perhaps among the most significantof these issues are the following:1. What is the overall meaning of human history? What is itslegithate subject? What are its contents?2. Is there any way to connect, historically, the remarkableabundance of diverse and multiplex events experienced byhumankind all cwer the globe? Haw are trends to be explained,in the light of logical, rational relationships that transcendthe time and place of their occurrence, as well as the speciallimitations of peoples and societies? And, is there any wayto translate what is gained from these events into laws andprinciples that may be applied to the present, or that mayafford a glimpse into the future, or that may explain themeaning of good and evil?3. Is it reasonable for us to think of human history as a logical,ordered process by means of which humankind proceeds fromits beginnig to its end? If so, was the master plan conceivedfrom without? Or does it come about from history itself?Furthermore, is all this beyond the mch of man himself ...