Social History of Scotland

[Steaphan]

[/b] [/QUOTE originally posted by Monco]

I am not sure what 'truth' you think Herman twisted in the book [/b][/quote]

Well, I meant the book title is an exaggeration and is essentially untrue. I recognise that it's used to sell the book but it doesn't help his arguments by over-emphasising his case.

[/b][/quote]
The book is essentially a theses, and while Herman does uses the work of other historians - all listed in the bibliography - to back up his theses, the books conclusions are entirely his own. [/b][/quote]


Well yes they are, but I don't agree with them.

[Monco]

Originally posted by Steaphan

originally posted by Monco
I am not sure what 'truth' you think Herman twisted in the book [/quote]

Well, I meant the book title is an exaggeration and is essentially untrue. I recognise that it's used to sell the book but it doesn't help his arguments by over-emphasising his case.[/quote]

Yes I agree it is an exagerration, and he does overstate his case. If he had called it something that recognised that the Scots made a hugely significant contribution to the modern world, but didn't entirely invent it themselves, then that might have been better. I don't know what you mean by 'essentially ubtrue' though.

[Steaphan]

Originally posted by Monco

I don't know what you mean by 'essentially ubtrue' though.
[/b][/quote]

I mean that while Scots made important contributions to modern technology, their ideas and inventions were influenced as much by other Europeans as they influenced the rest of Europe. ie.If Baird hadn't invented the TV, then someone else would have eventually.

[ANDY-J2]

The fact is however that the contribution which Scots have made to the modern world,not only in the field of technology but also in banking,commerce and medicine is so disproportionate to our size that it is remarkable.That so many men of ability and vision should have emerged in one country is not just coincidence-there must be some reason for it and the answer must surely lie with Scotland's education system.Scotland has traditionally placed a greater emphasis upon education than England or most other European countries-one of the few positive legacies of our Calvinist past-and I believe that during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries this made Scots colleges and universities into centres of excellence and this is the main reason why in the past Scotland has produced so many proficient engineers,doctors and scientists.