Things we will never know?

Historians are always making discoveries of new sources, or data, that shed light on past events; at times, these will either confirm the current account or will require modification and revision of it.

For example, the greater availability of economic data through the transference of original sources to the internet coupled with the ability to use computers to assemble and analyze large amounts of data, has provided---and will continue to do so---the basis for reassessment of our understanding of both the Medieval as well as the Victorian period (the mortality rates of different "social classes). The new studies of genetics is just beginning to make itself useful to historians (Jefferson's illegitimate children; the identification of mummies). The discovery of new documents also changes (or confirms) our historical knowledge; the release of Presidential Papers or of government archives from Communist Poland are two recent examples. Also consider how the translation of the Rosetta Stone opened up our knowledge of Ancient Egypt.

While I am not sure what is meant by "unknown facts," it seems likely that much of the prehistory of mankind will always be a matter of conjecture because of the lack of evidence of any kind. As Aristotle wrote, you cannot have a science of non-being.

As we discover new data, or improve our ability to understand it in different ways, we cannot with certainly delineate (outside of pre-history) areas that are unknowable, or "facts" we cannot in principle uncover.

Another curiosity post...Those who know a thing or two about history, can you give me examples of facts that we will never know? Or may never know?

Well ... I guess it depends upon what you mean by know.

In any case, history is something that you formulate in your mind based upon some input from some perspectives (a book, hearsay, eye witness account, video, audio recordings, etc.). Depending upon how much you trust your sources (including your own mind), you may know more or less.

As for me, knowing humans (of whom I am one), I always maintain some air of skepticism.

Rich

Well ... I guess it depends upon what you mean by know.

In any case, history is something that you formulate in your mind based upon some input from some perspectives (a book, hearsay, eye witness account, video, audio recordings, etc.). Depending upon how much you trust your sources (including your own mind), you may know more or less.

As for me, knowing humans (of whom I am one), I always maintain some air of skepticism.

Rich

Did Hitler really commit suicide?

I believe that the soviets kept fragments of Hitlers skull hidden for many years after discovering it . It did evidence a bullet wound however whether this was done by himself or not im not sure can be proven.
Also, i have reason to believe that in Spetember of last year they discovered that the fragment of skull was from a female. I guess that just adds another twist in the tale to the evil enigma that was Hitler.
The likelyhood is that Hitler did commit suicide, in his final days he was described as being Mad with a nervous twitch and beginning the planning of a pictoresque new town in Berlin , despite the fact it had by 1945 been destroyed. However i guess you are correct , we will never be 100% sure of how Hitler died, all we can agree on is that it was a shame it didnt happen earlier.

I believe that the soviets kept fragments of Hitlers skull hidden for many years after discovering it . It did evidence a bullet wound however whether this was done by himself or not im not sure can be proven.
Also, i have reason to believe that in Spetember of last year they discovered that the fragment of skull was from a female. I guess that just adds another twist in the tale to the evil enigma that was Hitler.
The likelyhood is that Hitler did commit suicide, in his final days he was described as being Mad with a nervous twitch and beginning the planning of a pictoresque new town in Berlin , despite the fact it had by 1945 been destroyed. However i guess you are correct , we will never be 100% sure of how Hitler died, all we can agree on is that it was a shame it didnt happen earlier.

Think of history such as the early colonization of the United States. The colony of Roanoke more or less vanished off the face of the earth. No traces were left behind to indicate the fate of any of its inhabitants. Still to this day, we do not know the true history.

It does seem to make sense though that the history was at some point known, and I suppose lost. The inhabitants themselves would have certainly been aware of their fate, whether they moved to a different area, were slaughtered by Native Americans (or taken by aliens? =P ) they would have been completely aware.

So in my eyes, all history is at some point known, but could eventually be lost forever without proper documentation.


If you are using 'know' in a present tense and meaning that the information could be readily available through books or the internet, then I would have to agree that some history will always be unknown to us presently. But I don't think that any history has ever been 'unknown' to everyone to exist.

But you can't mean that some events that happened in the past are not known to have happened.

I believe that the soviets kept fragments of Hitlers skull hidden for many years after discovering it . It did evidence a bullet wound however whether this was done by himself or not im not sure can be proven.
Also, i have reason to believe that in Spetember of last year they discovered that the fragment of skull was from a female. I guess that just adds another twist in the tale to the evil enigma that was Hitler.
The likelyhood is that Hitler did commit suicide, in his final days he was described as being Mad with a nervous twitch and beginning the planning of a pictoresque new town in Berlin , despite the fact it had by 1945 been destroyed. However i guess you are correct , we will never be 100% sure of how Hitler died, all we can agree on is that it was a shame it didnt happen earlier.

In one's personal history, for instance, events may have happened the import of which remain unknown for many years. Does one, in the mean time, know the events happened?

I don't know what you are asking. Are you asking whether if I know that some event happened, but I don't know what its significance is, do I know it has happened? The answer is, of course, yes. Why would you think any different?