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> Human moral attitudes are also very different, in different parts of the world, in the present. True, but still much less so than they were before the Modern
by keiferski 6y ago
> Human moral attitudes are also very different, in different parts of the world, in the present.
True, but still much less so than they were before the Modern era.
Regarding imperialism, I don’t think your examples are quite apt. While modern nation states have power bases around the world, this is nothing like most historical empires. The American economic “empire” is nothing compared to the Romans, Mongols, etc.
- 082349872349872 6y agoThe difference I see is that the Romans, Mongols, etc. were geographically limited and bordered by geostrategic peer powers, with the occasional client states buffering in between. Presumably you see different differences? (I've read a fair amount of Kissinger, and his main contribution to US political thought had been anticipated by the Melian Dialogue, set about 2'400 years ago)
- keiferski 6y agoSure, from a moral standpoint the Romans or Mongols would probably have zero qualms with using biological weapons, nukes, enslaving the conquered populace, etc. These are obviously all totally taboo today. If you read about the Mongol siege of Kyiv, or the Romans destroying and salting Carthage, they are way beyond anything considered acceptable today.
- irrational 6y agoI think of the Assyrians who carved into the stones of their public buildings scenes of them killing and torturing their enemies. I don't think that would go over so well today.
- aksss 6y agoLife was cheap, especially to the rulers, and their existence was a zero-sum game (the success of other rulers always compromised their own power to a degree or in totality).
- narag 6y agoWhat does "acceptable" mean? What we condemn in public or what we tolerate? It seems that civilians were killed using gas in Syria. Other atrocities are happening in several places around the world and they're dispatched with some stern declarations. When oil supply has been endangered, wars were fought.
- njarboe 6y agoFortunately the US is now a net oil producer and looks to be one for the indefinite future. Hopefully this will help reduce need for the US to militarily maintain access to that resource by force.