The dangers of different

historical perspectives
I can explain why historical knowledge is particularly vulnerable to interpretation via
different perspectives
Connect:
How does science try to
‘insulate’ itself from the
problem of perspective?

Think about the stages of

the scientific method when
you write your answer.
Perspectives &
science
“A thermometer is not liberal or
conservative” (Katherine Heyhoe)

● What do you think Heyhoe meant

- and what current issue does this
link to?
● Check your answer with the
interview with her (see Q3).
History & perspectives
How does history differ from science in terms
of the way knowledge is checked?

Why do you think that some people even

argue that it is a ‘pseudoscience’?
 Activate: The dangers of different
perspectives

Because history is written from different perspectives, the

same event is often portrayed differently according to the
background and academic tradition of the historian - or
other factors.

Look at Understanding Historical Perspectives on

theoryofknowledge.net, and learn about one way in which
a historical perspective can be misused.

Add your thoughts to the perspectives sheet (the first one

is done for you), and then contact other students in the
collaboration space to complete the table.
Overall, which ‘misuse’ of
perspectives would you say is
most problematic when it comes
to learning ‘the truth’ about the
past? Explain your answer. Check for Understanding
The dangers of a single
historical perspective
I can explain how our knowledge of the past is often based on ‘single stories’,
and what the implications of this are
Demonstrate:
“...if we are uncritical we shall always find what we want: we
shall look for, and find, confirmation, and we shall look away
from, and not see, whatever might be dangerous to our pet
theories. In this way it is only too easy to obtain what
appears to be overwhelming evidence in favour of a theory
which, if approached critically, would have been refuted.”
(Karl Popper)

Explain in your own words what Karl Popper meant. What is

this idea commonly called?

*Graphical representation of Covid Pandemic

 1. The story of Fide. How did a ‘single
The danger of a sin story’ influence the way Adichie
gle story viewed Fide, a boy who worked in her
house?
, Chimamanda 2. Experiences at college. Which ‘single
Ngozi Adichie story’ influenced the way Adichie was
perceived by her roommate?
3. Mexico. Which ‘single story’ made
Adichie pre-judge Mexican culture?
4. ‘Nkali’. How are ‘single stories’
created?
Use the timings in the OneNote to help
you through the video.
Single stories and Consolidate:
your knowledge ● Identify something you know about a
historical event or issue, but which is only
of the past based on a single perspective
● How would your understanding change if
you had access to other perspectives about it?
● Present your findings in OneNote. Share it on
your collaboration table and read others.

Hint: think about a ‘stereotypical’ view you have about

an event or issue from the past, based on the principle of
‘nkali’. If you can’t think of an example, use one of ours
 *Graphical representation of Covid Pandemic

“Single stories feed confirmation biases.”Do you agree? Justify your answer.