Passage Summary: People say we should learn from history, but the author thinks that's easier said than done because the past is hard to understand and historical events don't really repeat themselves in a way that makes their 'lessons' useful.

Conclusion: It is nearly impossible to actually identify and apply the lessons of history.

Reasoning: Even if we could accurately reconstruct the past, identifying its lessons is difficult, and applying them is unlikely because historical situations like World War I are unique and will never repeat exactly.

Analysis: This is a 'Role in Argument' question, so we need to look at the structural blueprint of the stimulus. The phrase in question is introduced as a common viewpoint that the author immediately complicates with the word 'but.' This indicates the phrase serves as the traditional wisdom or 'opposing point' that the author intends to challenge. Focus on identifying an answer choice that describes this as a claim the author is reacting against rather than one they are supporting.