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That's fair, but how about Napoleon? He was viewed as a monster at the time, for starting needless wars that killed (only) tens of thousands. Later on people to
by dash2 6y ago
That's fair, but how about Napoleon? He was viewed as a monster at the time, for starting needless wars that killed (only) tens of thousands. Later on people took a more balanced view. So, Hitler's reputation should not be rehabilitated, but that doesn't mean nobody should be rehabilitated.
- ianai 6y agoMaybe just don't lionize historical figures. Instead, celebrate good ideas with good outcomes, but not people. People worship has too many negatives.
- dash2 6y agoI think taking a balanced view is a good idea. That involves acknowledging that sometimes individual achievements matter. (On Napoleon's legacy, Scott Alexander has a nice post about a famous paper by Acemoglu and Robinson: https://astralcodexten.substack.com/p/the-consequences-of-radical-reform https://astralcodexten.substack.com/p/the-consequences-of-ra...)
- ianai 6y agoIndividual achievements that matter reflect good ideas worth noting.
- sonthonax 6y agoAnd that’s really the right viewpoint: Monster, Antichrist, etc. Much of the goodwill towards Napoleon’s memory is from the nastier factors of the French psyche.
- DenisM 6y agoIf Napoleon was hated at the time he would not get his 100 days.