Ancient Wisdom for Polarized Times: Why Humanity Needs Herodotus, the Man Who Invented History

How the wisdom of Herodotus can fortify us against political falsehoods and violent extremism

Nearly 2,500 years ago, the Greek writer Herodotus introduced the concept of objective truth derived from factual investigation and empirical deduction. Writing just before the start of the catastrophic Peloponnesian War (431–404 BCE), Herodotus addressed an increasingly polarized Greek world. His Histories demonstrates that the capacity for humane moral action depends on the ability to resist unt...