Healthy History

“He who controls the past controls the future. He who controls the present controls the past.”

— George Orwell, 1984

It has been cynically said that history is nothing but an agreed upon fable.

That word, “fable”, is significant: after all, a fable is a fictional story told to teach a moral lesson.

It’s worrying to see how deeply this view of history has taken root in modern academia. Increasingly, it is not treated as a pursuit of truth, but as a tool to shape political narratives. Like the architect in Huxley’s Brave New World, many academics seem to believe the public cannot be trusted with truth, only with carefully curated myths.

The past holds more stories than there are stars in the universe, or grains of sand in a desert. That makes it an endlessly fascinating subject, but also vulnerable to abuse. Events can be taken out of context, selectively reported, or emotionally framed to mislead. It is possible for a partisan actor to cherry-pick evidence to support any narrative they want.

Much like money laundering, bad ideas can be given a veneer of legitimacy simply through uncritical citations.

1. An activist academic could make an unsupported guess in a paper that is effectively hidden behind a paywall (few are willing to pay hundreds of dollars to subscribe to a niche academic journal).
2. Ideologically aligned colleagues can cite this guess uncritically, omitting doubt or the lack of methodological rigour.
3. Agenda-driven media may then amplify this to the broader public as “experts say”.
4. It can then spread like wildfire on social media and in countless conversations.

Most people don’t have the time, energy, or access to original sources to hold such bad history accountable. Few people buy history books, let alone multiple books on the same topic from historians with opposing perspectives. Like accepting the diagnosis of a doctor, many take what they hear on trust.

Historical myths can thus acquire the appearance of established fact. All the while, the nuanced and well-researched history books that could counter these claims gather dust on bookshelves. This good scholarship exists, but it rarely makes the headlines.

Treating history as nothing but a politically useful fable is a corruption of what it is meant to be. The word itself comes from the Greek historia, meaning “to inquire” or “to investigate.”

A historian is no prophet preaching divine revelations. The goal of a true historian is to offer an account of the past as accurate as humanly possible, untainted by bias, ideology, or agenda. Like a (very) cold case detective, they should piece together the most faithful picture of what actually happened. It ought to be an ongoing search for deeper understanding of the world and the people, ideas and events that have shaped the story of humanity.

A true historian’s work should mirror the scientific method: proposing theories, testing them against evidence, and embracing the challenges that refine (or even overturn) their previous conclusions.

Others have described these problems in far more depth and detail than I can here. I am not looking to add another voice to that commentary. As a tech entrepreneur, I’d rather focus on building the solution.

History, as it ought to be, is perfectly aligned with the mission of HealthyDebate.org: the pursuit of truth. And it is through open, honest debate that we can achieve healthy history.

HealthyDebate offers an unprecedented opportunity to push back against historical distortions and disprove the myths.

Within its framework, every historical claim can be challenged as the motion of its own debate. This would be the one definitive debate where the best historians marshal the best evidence to support, or refute, the claim.

And crucially: every claim made within each challenge is linked to the definitive debate over that claim as well. Through successive challenges it will be possible to drill down to the foundations of why people hold their positions; are they castles built on sand or bedrock?

For each claim, the foundation of evidence used to support the claim is clearly identified. This is clearly divided into both primary and secondary sources, so readers can tell when a claim is supported only by a mountain of conjecture, and little hard evidence. The relevance and reliability of any evidence cited in support of a claim can then itself be the subject of debate.

HealthyDebate offers unprecedented depth that remains accessible. Whenever a claim is in doubt, the one definitive debate on it is always just one click away. There is no need to subscribe to a dozen journals, pass gatekeepers, or gain access to an undigitized library on the other side of the world.

In an open arena of ideas, historians would compete to offer the best arguments, the clearest articulation, and the most thoroughly researched claims. Success would translate into greater visibility and recognition, as their argument might become the definitive rebuttal, seen whenever, or wherever a claim is made.

With a potential audience counted in the millions, it would be an unprecedented vehicle to build a reputation, gain followers, sell books, and most importantly, make a difference.

The mission of HealthyDebate is not only to search for truth, but to effectively share that search with the public. It is not enough that a few academics understand our story, we all should.

After all, with a distorted historical record we have a distorted understanding of reality.
We make false connections.
We draw faulty conclusions.
We chart the wrong course forward.

Whoever does not know their history is like a man with amnesia, confused and easily manipulated. A false history, taught young and repeated often, can rewrite collective memory. And with it, rewrite identity, policy, even morality.

We should always bear in mind the chilling warning from George Santayana:

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

HealthyDebate.org is a not-for-profit organization, incorporated in Delaware to benefit from First Amendment protections.

It will apply for 501(c)(3) status so donations can be tax-deductible.
It will be crowdfunded to avoid even the perception of capture by special interests.

Impartiality is more than a principle. It’s a strategic necessity.
If we want everyone at the table, we have to build something that earns their trust.

The public crowdfunding campaign has not yet launched, and that’s intentional.

People are far more likely to donate when it is recommended by people they know and trust, when experienced leaders are involved, and when it shows clear signs of momentum. Before going public, the goal is to build a strong foundation by:

• Securing endorsements from respected voices across the political spectrum who are ready to publicly support the mission.
• Involving individuals committed to truth-seeking through open, civil debate with a proven record of success.
• Engaging people with influential platforms who are prepared to amplify the message.

Whether that means donating, (constructively) critiquing, connecting via social media, or getting involved, every contribution makes a difference and would be appreciated.

Most importantly, please share this. It’s the only way a spark becomes a wildfire.

Be part of the solution.
Be seen to be part of the solution.
Support HealthyDebate.org. The debates that shape the future are coming.