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Saying that someone hides their selfish motivations behind high-minded rhetoric is not infantilizing. We don't owe it to anyone to believe what they say, even i
by simiones 3y ago
Saying that someone hides their selfish motivations behind high-minded rhetoric is not infantilizing. We don't owe it to anyone to believe what they say, even if they say it plainly and clearly. When someone's every move brings them more power and wealth, I for one become very suspicious of any claims they make (whether publicly or privately) about the altruistic motivations behind their moves.
Still, if you really want to get into a debate about Hitler's personal beliefs, we would actually need to evaluate what might have made him believe what he professed to believe about the ills of the world. We obviously know he was wrong, but was it plausible, or is it only motivated thinking that might have made him believe these things?
- boxed 3y ago> [..] we would actually need to evaluate what might have made him believe what he professed to believe about the ills of the world Yes! That's the important part. We want to avoid future mistakes. Understanding how the demons of our past became demons is enormously important.