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The idea that all human beings are "equal" in the sense that they deserve dignity and respect is a modern idea. I'm not aware of any other time in human history

by api 11y ago

The idea that all human beings are "equal" in the sense that they deserve dignity and respect is a modern idea. I'm not aware of any other time in human history that there's been this sort of universalism among more than a few philosophers here and there. Likewise the notion that war is not a good thing seems modern to me. Ancient philosophers typically extolled the virtues of war. It was really the advent of mechanized warfare, and especially the a-bomb, that made war so abnormally destructive that it became something roundly condemned.

e12e 11y ago
If by modern you mean "post 1500s" I suppose you're probably right. But eg: "Heart of Darkness" came out in 1899. [ed: Perhaps more apropos I came across this: http://www.theguardian.com/world/1933/mar/28/germany.secondworldwar http://www.theguardian.com/world/1933/mar/28/germany.secondw... "Big fire at Reichstag" Manchester Guardian, February 1933 "The wildest rumours were circulating in Berlin last night, adds Reuter. One was to the effect that secret orders had been issued to the Nazi Storm Troopers to create a Bartholomew night on Saturday, when all political opponents of renown were to be "disposed of." Although the police asserted the Communists are responsible, some people think that the fire might have bee started by irresponsible Nazis with the object of provoking trouble." http://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/1933/mar/21/fromthearchive http://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/1933/mar/21/fromthear... "Communists to be interned in Dachau" The Guardian, Tuesday 21 March 1933 The President of the Munich police has informed the press that the first concentration camp holding 5,000 political prisoners is to be organised within the next few days near the town of Dachau in Bavaria. Here, he said, Communists, "Marxists" and Reichsbanner leaders who endangered the security of the State would be kept in custody. It was impossible to find room for them in the State prisons, nor was it possible to release them. Experience had shown, he said, that the moment they were released, they started their agitation again. It's hard to shake the similarity to some other terrorists who "cannot be released" -- held without any proper trial]

by api 11y ago

e12e 11y ago

If by modern you mean "post 1500s" I suppose you're probably right. But eg: "Heart of Darkness" came out in 1899. [ed: Perhaps more apropos I came across this: http://www.theguardian.com/world/1933/mar/28/germany.secondworldwar http://www.theguardian.com/world/1933/mar/28/germany.secondw... "Big fire at Reichstag" Manchester Guardian, February 1933 "The wildest rumours were circulating in Berlin last night, adds Reuter. One was to the effect that secret orders had been issued to the Nazi Storm Troopers to create a Bartholomew night on Saturday, when all political opponents of renown were to be "disposed of." Although the police asserted the Communists are responsible, some people think that the fire might have bee started by irresponsible Nazis with the object of provoking trouble." http://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/1933/mar/21/fromthearchive http://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/1933/mar/21/fromthear... "Communists to be interned in Dachau" The Guardian, Tuesday 21 March 1933 The President of the Munich police has informed the press that the first concentration camp holding 5,000 political prisoners is to be organised within the next few days near the town of Dachau in Bavaria. Here, he said, Communists, "Marxists" and Reichsbanner leaders who endangered the security of the State would be kept in custody. It was impossible to find room for them in the State prisons, nor was it possible to release them. Experience had shown, he said, that the moment they were released, they started their agitation again. It's hard to shake the similarity to some other terrorists who "cannot be released" -- held without any proper trial]