The purpose of history is to learn from past successes and failures in order to make informed decisions for a fulfilling life. By reconstituting past thought and comparing it to our current situation, we can achieve a sense of happiness in a world full of anxiety.
The speaker recommends working hard and having a strong work ethic to find happiness in a world full of anxiety and insecurity, including being attracted to others. He also suggests engaging in physical activity to complement good mental work and not worrying about being average in certain hobbies or skills.
The meaning of life, for the speaker, is to ensure that humans can lead fulfilled lives and to honor and learn from the accumulated wisdom of those who came before us. This involves living ethically and recognizing the intergenerational transfer of wisdom.
Applied history helps us understand key principles from the past that are useful in solving today's problems. Another reason for teaching history is to remind us that civilization is fragile and can easily be destroyed.