Overview

The question Does civilization civilize? is a fine example of petitio principii, and decidesitself in the affirmative; for civilization must needs do that from the doing of which it has itsname. But it is not necessary to suppose that he who propounds is either unconscious of hislapse in logic or desirous of digging a pitfall for the feet of those who discuss; I take it hesimply wishes to put the matter in an impressive way, and relies upon a certain degree ofintelligence in the interpretation.Concerning uncivilized peoples we know but little except what we are told by travelers-who, speaking generally, can know very little but the fact of uncivilization, as shown inexternals and irrelevances, and are moreover, greatly given to lying. From the savages wehear very little. Judging them in all things by our own standards in default of a knowledgeof theirs, we necessarily condemn, disparage and belittle. One thing that civilizationcertainly has not done is to make us intelligent enough to understand that the contrary of avirtue is not necessarily a vice. Because, as a rule, we have but one wife and severalmistresses each it is not certain that polygamy is everywhere-nor, for that matter, anywhere-either wrong or inexpedient. Because the brutality of the civilized slave ownersand dealers created a conquering sentiment against slavery it is not intelligent to assumethat slavery is a maleficent thing amongst Oriental peoples (for example) where the slave isnot oppressed. Some of these same Orientals whom we are pleased to term half-civilizedhave no regard for truth. Takest thou me for a Christian dog, said one of them, that Ishould be the slave of my word? So far as I can perceive, the Christian dog is no more theslave of his word than the True Believer, and I think the savage-allowing for the fact thathis inveracity has dominion over fewer things-as great a liar as either of them. For mypart, I do not know what, in all circumstances, is right or wrong; but I know that, if right, itis at least stupid, to judge an uncivilized people by the standards of morality andintelligence set up by civilized ones. Life in civilized countries is so complex that men therehave more ways to be good than savages have, and more to be bad; more to be happy, andmore to be miserable. And in each way to be good or bad, their generally superiorknowledge-their knowledge of more things-enables them to commit greater excessesthan the savage can. The civilized philanthropist wreaks upon his fellows a rankerphilanthropy, the civilized rascal a sturdier rascality. And-splendid triumph ofenlightenment!-the two characters are, in civilization, frequently combined in one person.

Full Product Details

9798671531220

Table of Contents

Reviews

Author Information

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available