Hindsight history, also referred to as counterfactual history, is often criticized as an unproductive exercise where the present evaluates past events with the benefit of current knowledge. Rather than offering genuine insights into historical events, it tends to devolve into a competitive discussion where contemporary individuals critique and judge the decisions of historical figures who cannot respond to such critiques.

Joseph J. Ellis, in his book "American Creation: Triumphs and Tragedies at the Founding of the Republic," suggests that this practice can be seen as condescending and unhelpful. It shifts the focus from understanding the context and complexities faced by historical figures to a superficial interpretation that overlooks the realities they encountered, reducing their legacies to mere subjects of modern debate.