Lewis: Those who do not learn from past mistakes - their own and those

Lewis says that a person can avoid mistakes by learning from the ones committed by others. Therefore one should be aware about history
Morris says that the history is so wide that one thing which might be a mistake at one point may not be a mistake at another.
However, if history teaches us unequivocal (unambiguous) lessons, then Morris' argument falls flat and this is the issue with Morris' argument. This is what the option C tells us.

Option C

Why not A? Both A and C are similar in meaning. Please help. Thanks!

Actually the meanings of (A) and (C) are quite different.

"Uncontested historical facts" are not facts that are true but may lead to a variety of different conclusions or support conflicting views. "Uncontested historical facts" are simply facts that are considered true and are not contested by anyone. In other words, nobody makes the case that these facts are untrue.

Since Morris does not question whether there are any historical facts that everyone agrees to be true, the issue he raises is not that of whether there are any uncontested historical facts. So, (A) does not match what Morris says.

Rather, Morris says that, because there is such a great variety of historical facts, "it is possible to prove anything or its contrary." So, the issue that Morris brings up is that of whether, as (C) says, history teaches any unequivocal, or completely clear, lessons.
_________________

Also to add "benefit from the lessons of history,". Option C uses " teaches ". Like a subtle but still a connection.

Hence C over A.

Thank you!

Morris's argument is saying that from past it is possible to prove anything or its contrary.(basically you can prove A and not A both: which is kinda ambiguous)

Between A and C:

A) there are any uncontested historical facts [ contested or uncontested doesn't matter: Morris's objection is with the ambiguity ]

C) history teaches any unequivocal (=unambiguous) lessons [ yes! this is the point of debate.]

Lewis: Those who do not learn from past mistakes - their own and those of others - are condemned to repeat them. In order to benefit from the lessons of history, however, we first have to know history. That is why the acquisition of broad historical knowledge is so important.

Morris: The trouble is that the past is infinitely various. From its inexhaustible storehouse of events it is possible to prove anything or its contrary.

The issue that Morris raises in objecting to Lewis' view is whether

(A) there are any uncontested historical facts - WRONG. Lewis suggests that History may help but Morris says that may not be so helpful but none Point out any specific facts.

(B) historical knowledge can be too narrow to be useful - WRONG. Exactly opposite to Morris says.

(C) history teaches any unequivocal lessons - CORRECT. Though didn't understand this in true sense but POE helped. All it can be said that one views history as a helping hand while another is not.

(D) there are conventional criteria for calling a past action a mistake - WRONG. Nothing as such is discussed by Morris. There is no such argument on this from Lewis as well.

(E) events in the present are influenced by past events - WRONG. No not that. Nowhere it is suggested by Morris.

Answer C.
_________________