original_query: What is the significance of historical figures in human progress?
query: What is the significance of historical figures in human progress?
answer: The significance of historical figures in human progress is a debated topic. Some, like Hegel, believe world-historical figures play a pivotal role, while others, like Spencer, consider them relatively unimportant.  Hegel's concept of the world-historical figure is someone who embodies societal change, often generating conflict and leading to synthesis.  However, others argue that great figures are merely representative of broader historical forces, with limited individual agency.