History

Is it ethical to judge historical figures by modern values?

For

Morality should apply across time, right and wrong do not change.

Against

People lived in different times with different norms.

Anonymous excerpts, translated where noted.

For

  • Of course it's okay to judge historical figures by modern standards.
    RedditOriginal language: English
  • in acknowledging that bigotry is 'wrong,' that has to include that idea that it was always wrong.
    RedditOriginal language: English

Against

  • You can judge their actions, but not them as an individual.
    RedditOriginal language: English
  • I don't think that it's fair to say that we shouldn't respect or honor any person who owned slaves in the 1760s
    RedditOriginal language: English
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