| Author |
Topic |
Pigmalia
Dignitary
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 Sat Jul 15, 2006 7:23 pm     |
Well doesn't it?
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“I enjoy crushing bastards.” Assange |
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| posts: 4738 | location: Autonomous Inland Empire - Occupied | joined: 02 Feb 2006 |
Javelin
Ambassador
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Sun Jul 16, 2006 12:53 pm |
No (because I can beat you up if you disagree).
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| posts: 1258 | location: London, UK | joined: 01 Oct 2001 | medals: 5 |
Winterfall
Dignitary
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Sun Jul 16, 2006 1:11 pm |
Might may not make right, but history is written by the winners.
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| posts: 132 | location: Brisbane, Australia | joined: 05 Jul 2005 |
Pigmalia
Dignitary
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Sun Jul 16, 2006 8:54 pm |
I do realize that I got off to a bit of a simple start, but really it is a very interesting question. I am an avid reader in history and have observed in the bookstores the struggle over which interpretation of the past is to prevail. I would suppose in our capitalist society its not just who wins the war but who has the most popular writers on their side.
While history is suppose to be about the facts, we all have to admit it is really about the facts that are included and those left out that end up being the version of history we come to know. And in academic circles, you make your name revolutionizing your field (turning everything upside). Now we have that spookey thing called revisionist history.
Is there then some fundamentally good quality to the whole "Might Makes Right" idea?
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| posts: 4738 | location: Autonomous Inland Empire - Occupied | joined: 02 Feb 2006 |
slappy
Dignitary
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Mon Jul 17, 2006 6:16 am |
I agree with pintoski. This sounds to me more like a discussion of history being written by the winners, rather than might making "right" (although the former may be a special case of one sense of the latter).
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| posts: 5318 | location: Upper Canada | joined: 07 Mar 2005 |
orange
Foreign Minister
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Tue Jul 18, 2006 10:21 am |
If you want to get philosophical, noodle on this - is it the opposite? does right makes might? Are the virtuous destined to be the victorious?
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OIW
TOC9 Terminal Engagement - France |
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Danivon
Ambassador
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Tue Jul 18, 2006 11:25 am |
Revisionism is all very well, and can bring up interesting perspectives. But there is a limit to how far you can revise history.
As for 'Might makes right', I don't get that at all.
After all, Ghenghis Khan was a pretty mighty ruler. Atilla the Hun had a mighty army. Stalin's Red Army won the Second World War in Europe. The US Cavalry were pretty good at killing and herding the indigenous Americans.
We could go on exploring examples where the mighty were not, perhaps, right. But it will get very boring very quickly.
As to Orange's counter, well I don't know. Sometimes the virtuous are cut down like blades of grass.
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History |
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| posts: 8531 | location: Rugby, Warwicksire, UK: Home of the oddly-shaped ball | joined: 15 Apr 2004 |
Freelance
Ambassador
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Tue Jul 18, 2006 1:57 pm |
| Quote: |
| ...history is written by the winners |
A good reason to write an EOG when you solo in diplomacy.
Art imitates life....
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| posts: 1646 | location: Wollongong, NSW, Australia | joined: 23 Nov 2000 | medals: 5 |
Pigmalia
Dignitary
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Sun Jul 23, 2006 5:44 pm |
Islam would suggest that everything that happens is God's will, ergo, might makes right. Obviously this made sense when Islam was sweeping across the world and writing the history.
Let's take this outside the context of war and instead examine FDR's New Deal. Would we be better off without the New Deal?
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| posts: 4738 | location: Autonomous Inland Empire - Occupied | joined: 02 Feb 2006 |
StevieT92
Statesman
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Sun Jul 23, 2006 7:14 pm |
| Pigmalia wrote: |
Islam would suggest that everything that happens is God's will, ergo, might makes right. Obviously this made sense when Islam was sweeping across the world and writing the history.
Let's take this outside the context of war and instead examine FDR's New Deal. Would we be better off without the New Deal? |
Please elaborate for those who weren't alive at the time please,
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Danivon
Ambassador
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Mon Jul 24, 2006 11:08 am |
| Pigmalia wrote: |
| Would we be better off without the New Deal? |
Who is 'we'? Us non Americans don't really know the answer. I'm sure it helped a lot of families at the time, while slightly eroding the profits of the rich through increased taxes.
It may have helped avert social problems. It may also have spurred the economy and made it easier to move to a War Economy.
Maybe? Not sure what it has to do with 'might'
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| posts: 8531 | location: Rugby, Warwicksire, UK: Home of the oddly-shaped ball | joined: 15 Apr 2004 |
KingOfThings
Adjutant
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Mon Jul 24, 2006 2:20 pm |
| Winterfall wrote: |
| Might may not make right, but history is written by the winners. |
Not really. The Nazis are still making propaganda.
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| posts: 11 | location: Montreal, QC, Canada | joined: 22 Jul 2006 |
KingOfThings
Adjutant
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Mon Jul 24, 2006 2:23 pm |
| Danivon wrote: |
| Pigmalia wrote: |
| Would we be better off without the New Deal? |
Who is 'we'? Us non Americans don't really know the answer. I'm sure it helped a lot of families at the time, while slightly eroding the profits of the rich through increased taxes.
It may have helped avert social problems. It may also have spurred the economy and made it easier to move to a War Economy.
Maybe? Not sure what it has to do with 'might' |
I think the New Deal cccertainly helped America, but whose to say that helping America is "right"? more "right" than helping another nation's economy? more "right" than helping the global economy?
(I'm still a moral absolutist: my question was only partially meant to be hypothetical.)
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| posts: 11 | location: Montreal, QC, Canada | joined: 22 Jul 2006 |
Pigmalia
Dignitary
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Mon Jul 24, 2006 9:20 pm |
| Danivon wrote: |
| Who is 'we'? Us non Americans don't really know the answer. |
Wow! This should be its own topic. Frankly it didn't cross my mind to consider non-Americans. How would Canadians fit into a 'Might Makes Right" discussion?
A new topic has been inspired. I am off to post under political discussion "American Hegemony."
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| posts: 4738 | location: Autonomous Inland Empire - Occupied | joined: 02 Feb 2006 |
Pigmalia
Dignitary
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Mon Jul 24, 2006 9:20 pm |
| Danivon wrote: |
| Who is 'we'? Us non Americans don't really know the answer. |
Wow! This should be its own topic. Frankly it didn't cross my mind to consider non-Americans. How would Canadians fit into a 'Might Makes Right" discussion?
A new topic has been inspired. I am off to post under political discussion "American Hegemony."
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| posts: 4738 | location: Autonomous Inland Empire - Occupied | joined: 02 Feb 2006 |
