I uhh, I don’t think my comment is in agreement with your statement.
I feel like “it should be considered in historical context, with an understanding of the prevailing norms of the time” is generally a pretty reasonable attitude to be honest.
Were the Maori’s “brutal savages” because they engaged in cannibalism of conquered rival clansman, or were they “noble warriors” engaging in a cultural norm pushed upon them by the harsh conditions of their society at the time?
Most would say that anyone engaging in cannibalism today is a murderous psychopat. Do we then judge everyone in the last hundred years the same? 200? Where’s the line? What about an uncontacted tribe we discover tomorrow that still engages in cannibalism - do we consider the context of the society and environ they live in, like an anthropologist would, or just label… ‘Nup, savages’.
I don’t agree with the premise that all cannibals are murderous psychopaths. Humans are incapable of living without harming other organisms, so context matters when it comes to evaluating specific forms of harm. I struggle to think of a situation which would justify rape or slavery as necessary to continue one’s life or wellbeing.
This kind of thing is why “It was a different time,” is such an absolutely worthless defense of harmful behavior.
I uhh, I don’t think my comment is in agreement with your statement.
I feel like “it should be considered in historical context, with an understanding of the prevailing norms of the time” is generally a pretty reasonable attitude to be honest.
Were the Maori’s “brutal savages” because they engaged in cannibalism of conquered rival clansman, or were they “noble warriors” engaging in a cultural norm pushed upon them by the harsh conditions of their society at the time?
Most would say that anyone engaging in cannibalism today is a murderous psychopat. Do we then judge everyone in the last hundred years the same? 200? Where’s the line? What about an uncontacted tribe we discover tomorrow that still engages in cannibalism - do we consider the context of the society and environ they live in, like an anthropologist would, or just label… ‘Nup, savages’.
I don’t agree with the premise that all cannibals are murderous psychopaths. Humans are incapable of living without harming other organisms, so context matters when it comes to evaluating specific forms of harm. I struggle to think of a situation which would justify rape or slavery as necessary to continue one’s life or wellbeing.