Imagine the reaction on Twitter if Darwin published the Origin of Species today. It was bad enough for him at the time, but imagine what it would be like now. If he had an employer, there's a significant chance he'd be fired.
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Do you really think modern secular society is more censorious than prudish, Anglican Victorian society? The barest wiiff of divorce or scandal could exile you from society. People were transported for stealing *one pair of shoes.* Sensationalist media stirred up moral panics.
Depends about what. My worry is that we might be less intolerant about e.g. how you dress, but more intolerant about big ideas. Mobs did not form as fast about ideas then. (Incidentally, Nonconformists were probably more prudish than Anglicans.)
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Copernicus didn't publish until he was on his deathbed and that was way before social media
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Yaay, we may still be marginally less censorious than the medieval church. That’s all fine then.
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I've generally found folks to be open to discussing just about anything, so long as it's approached from a respectful, polite stand point. So what sort of ideas are you specifically referring to?
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Herrnstein and Murray type ideas
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“Mobs” is an interesting word choice. “Groups of people reacting to harm” is not a modern invention. I don’t see the virtue in eugenics, segregation or ___ superiority without critique. That’s what “classic” liberals desire, right? Mind & theory...when Others couldn’t pushback.
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So today it’s genetics, IQ, crypto, gender differences, gene editing, longevity, disparities, economics. And scientists are afraid, thinkers are afraid—because they can’t theorize or publish all things. Race science. Essays demeaning their co-workers. Charles Murray. Fascism.
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1/ I'm not so sure re mobs not forming as fast about ideas before in the pre-internet era. eg - Galileo. Plus folks like Henry Hudson & Magellan were accidental pioneers. IMO the real consequences of unpopular ideas are less drastic today than in ages past.
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You might get fired from a job, but you'll probably never be wanting for 3 meals a day and shelter if you're a first world white collar worker. However we're way more susceptible to social pressure that can make it seem like the consequences of unpopular opinions are catastrophic
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The social pressure on atheists, divorcées, “the inferior Oriental race,” gay men, anarchists, Jews, pacifists, & women was much greater in 1859, though. Some jobs, influence & social positions were impossible. School admission was denied. We are MUCH MORE tolerant today.
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"Mobs" didn't form as fast about ideas then because: 1. less people could read 2. communication tech wasn't as good Not saying social attitude doesn't affect this, but why on earth would you jump to that without first examining these 2, much larger changes?
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