(August 4, 2013 at 2:16 pm)Koolay Wrote: I was thinking about how during the peak of slavery in America, it was completely disapproved by society to be against slavery and racism. You would have virtually no friends, people would attack you verbally or physically if you questioned slavery and racism.
Please don't make such historically inaccurate statements. Your wanton ignorance is embarrassing for us all. Atleast do some cursory research on the topic before posting on it.
(August 4, 2013 at 2:16 pm)Koolay Wrote: Today, being an anti-racist, doesn't require much courage at all. You get big kudos in the western world from society if you speak out against racism.
But... I wonder how many of these anti-racists awashed in modern culture would still stand for their principles, even when the chips are down, and you are completely outnumbered and ostracised for your principles?
How many of you would still be anti-racist if you were completely outnumbered by racists?
So, basically, your question is "Everyone in the society is anti-racist because everyone else is anti-racist, but if everyone in the society was racist then would anyone be anti-racist"?
Ignoring the ridiculous manner in which you put the question, the answer would be - yes, I would and so would many others.
The relation between principles and social disapproval is not simple. Most of the time, people will stand for their principles in face of social disapproval. However, most of the time, your principles would be something that meet social approval.
(August 4, 2013 at 2:16 pm)Koolay Wrote: Every single society in history has pretty much said the same thing "We are normal, healthy and rational people - but we have a few outliers". If you would take anyone from the middle ages, and put them in modern society, they would be carted off to an insane asylum almost instantly.
I've never heard of a single society that says that. And no - someone from middle ages would not be carted off to a mental asylum.
(August 4, 2013 at 2:16 pm)Koolay Wrote: How do we know, what we are doing right now in society is valid and ethical, when in a few hundred years, our Joe Shmo might be considered completely irrational and weird.
By evaluating it on the basis of ethics.
(August 4, 2013 at 2:16 pm)Koolay Wrote: I guess the question is... Do you care more about social approval or principles?
That's a different question. The latter.
