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Culture War Roundup for the week of September 7, 2026

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"When Russians shoot Ukrainians, that's bad; When Ukrainians shoot Russians, that's good". Such Hottentot Morality.

Unironically yes. Learning how to step away from this viewpoint was one of the big things about the Enlightenment.

That's odd, I distinctly recall lots of people being killed not just as a direct result of, but in the name of Enlightenment.

And while I'm sure extreme pacifists existed among Enlightment thinkers, I don't think "it's morally wrong to repell an invading army" was a representative view among them.

don't think "it's morally wrong to repell an invading army" was a representative view among them.

You have failed to mirror it. As much as this is "Hottentot Morality":

"When Russians shoot Ukrainians, that's bad; When Ukrainians shoot Russians, that's good"

This is also "Hottentot Morality"

"When Russians shoot Ukrainians, that's good; When Ukrainians shoot Russians, that's bad"

I would call it just being tribal, but the clear distinction is conflict theory-like. "My side is good so anything we do is good and justified, the other side is not-us and thus is bad, anything they do is bad and unjustified, even if its the exact same thing we do"

You have failed to mirror

How? I agree that the Hottentot Morality criticism would be just as incoherent if it was about Russians defending themselves from a Ukrainian invasion, adding that would just be reduntant.

"My side is good so anything we do is good and justified, the other side is not-us and thus is bad, anything they do is bad and unjustified, even if its the exact same thing we do"

I don't see where this is happening.