[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
three weeks ago my class was asked by a
three weeks ago my class was asked by a teacher what is morality I was taken
teacher what is morality I was taken
teacher what is morality I was taken aback and we haven’t not deeply
aback and we haven’t not deeply
aback and we haven’t not deeply considered this question before replied
considered this question before replied
considered this question before replied personal principles deciding the
personal principles deciding the
personal principles deciding the difference between right and wrong the
difference between right and wrong the
difference between right and wrong the response we got was a slow nod and
response we got was a slow nod and
response we got was a slow nod and pensive look presentism is the practice
pensive look presentism is the practice
pensive look presentism is the practice of applying modern-day morality to the
of applying modern-day morality to the
of applying modern-day morality to the past and that phrase modern-day morality
past and that phrase modern-day morality
past and that phrase modern-day morality is where I’d like to begin my talk
is where I’d like to begin my talk
is where I’d like to begin my talk tonight
tonight
tonight although most dictionaries would agree
although most dictionaries would agree
although most dictionaries would agree with my broad definition of morality
with my broad definition of morality
with my broad definition of morality obtaining a consensus for the whole
obtaining a consensus for the whole
obtaining a consensus for the whole world’s idea of such proves much for Nia
world’s idea of such proves much for Nia
world’s idea of such proves much for Nia for some euthanasia is an act of murder
for some euthanasia is an act of murder
for some euthanasia is an act of murder for others it is an act of kindness is
for others it is an act of kindness is
for others it is an act of kindness is doing right
doing right
doing right finding endless online petitions
finding endless online petitions
finding endless online petitions sweating your way to a finish line for
sweating your way to a finish line for
sweating your way to a finish line for charity or cultivating a marvelous
charity or cultivating a marvelous
charity or cultivating a marvelous mustache in Movember to raise awareness
mustache in Movember to raise awareness
mustache in Movember to raise awareness are we now only morally just when our
are we now only morally just when our
are we now only morally just when our actions will benefit others a tricky
actions will benefit others a tricky
actions will benefit others a tricky question to which I’m sure we’d all have
question to which I’m sure we’d all have
question to which I’m sure we’d all have varied answers to it is unlikely that
varied answers to it is unlikely that
varied answers to it is unlikely that any consensus of what the modern-day
any consensus of what the modern-day
any consensus of what the modern-day population thinks of as being morally
population thinks of as being morally
population thinks of as being morally correct or incorrect will be unanimous
correct or incorrect will be unanimous
correct or incorrect will be unanimous as our thoughts of fickle and a change
as our thoughts of fickle and a change
as our thoughts of fickle and a change as part of who we are our morals have
as part of who we are our morals have
as part of who we are our morals have never quite been set in stone they have
never quite been set in stone they have
never quite been set in stone they have shaped shifted since their beginning
shaped shifted since their beginning
shaped shifted since their beginning through time and across the world they
through time and across the world they
through time and across the world they have become the playdough of the people
have become the playdough of the people
have become the playdough of the people and societies since have consistently
and societies since have consistently
and societies since have consistently been molding their hand into principles
been molding their hand into principles
been molding their hand into principles that benefit their wants needs and way
that benefit their wants needs and way
that benefit their wants needs and way of life most thus difference is to be
of life most thus difference is to be
of life most thus difference is to be expected across the globe morality can
expected across the globe morality can
expected across the globe morality can undergo a revolution within a generation
undergo a revolution within a generation
undergo a revolution within a generation it was not until 1928 when women first
it was not until 1928 when women first
it was not until 1928 when women first achieved the same fighting voting rights
achieved the same fighting voting rights
achieved the same fighting voting rights as men in Germany it was 1918
as men in Germany it was 1918
as men in Germany it was 1918 Switzerland 1971 and United Arab
Switzerland 1971 and United Arab
Switzerland 1971 and United Arab Emirates 2006 in the centuries prior to
Emirates 2006 in the centuries prior to
Emirates 2006 in the centuries prior to this many thought that women having this
this many thought that women having this
this many thought that women having this right was wrong I’m sure some still do
right was wrong I’m sure some still do
right was wrong I’m sure some still do and this problem of inconsistency is
and this problem of inconsistency is
and this problem of inconsistency is especially prevalent in today’s society
especially prevalent in today’s society
especially prevalent in today’s society with our widespread access to
with our widespread access to
with our widespread access to information via the internet not all of
information via the internet not all of
information via the internet not all of us like no longer constrained by herd
us like no longer constrained by herd
us like no longer constrained by herd mentality ignorance and we’re more
mentality ignorance and we’re more
mentality ignorance and we’re more likely to form our own code of ethics
likely to form our own code of ethics
likely to form our own code of ethics therefore what is morally just in our
therefore what is morally just in our
therefore what is morally just in our day and age is entirely subjective and
day and age is entirely subjective and
day and age is entirely subjective and cannot be concretely defined this is one
cannot be concretely defined this is one
cannot be concretely defined this is one of the most compelling criticisms of
of the most compelling criticisms of
of the most compelling criticisms of presentism can one condemned restricting
presentism can one condemned restricting
presentism can one condemned restricting women’s right to vote since given that
women’s right to vote since given that
women’s right to vote since given that morals are subjective and fluid who is
morals are subjective and fluid who is
morals are subjective and fluid who is to say that a single person’s morals or
to say that a single person’s morals or
to say that a single person’s morals or rights were wrong for one to deem
rights were wrong for one to deem
rights were wrong for one to deem something is incorrect does not
something is incorrect does not
something is incorrect does not necessarily prove that it is
necessarily prove that it is
necessarily prove that it is fundamentally fundamentally wrong
fundamentally fundamentally wrong
fundamentally fundamentally wrong secondly there is no way to prove that
secondly there is no way to prove that
secondly there is no way to prove that one person’s code of morals are lost
one person’s code of morals are lost
one person’s code of morals are lost truly aligned with modern-day morality
truly aligned with modern-day morality
truly aligned with modern-day morality by which presentism aims to judge the
by which presentism aims to judge the
by which presentism aims to judge the past presentism is believed by some such
past presentism is believed by some such
past presentism is believed by some such as historian David Fisher to be a common
as historian David Fisher to be a common
as historian David Fisher to be a common fallacy in historical writing the
fallacy in historical writing the
fallacy in historical writing the fallacy of nunc pro tunc now for then
fallacy of nunc pro tunc now for then
fallacy of nunc pro tunc now for then applying judgment to an earlier date it
applying judgment to an earlier date it
applying judgment to an earlier date it is generally agreed that discussions of
is generally agreed that discussions of
is generally agreed that discussions of the past should be unclouded by bias and
the past should be unclouded by bias and
the past should be unclouded by bias and thus approaches such a presentism should
thus approaches such a presentism should
thus approaches such a presentism should not be employed another key argument
not be employed another key argument
not be employed another key argument against presentism exists it doesn’t
against presentism exists it doesn’t
against presentism exists it doesn’t matter what does the discussion or
matter what does the discussion or
matter what does the discussion or judgment of the past actually achieve
judgment of the past actually achieve
judgment of the past actually achieve the past is the past and we can do
the past is the past and we can do
the past is the past and we can do nothing about it now similarly debating
nothing about it now similarly debating
nothing about it now similarly debating on what historical figures were like is
on what historical figures were like is
on what historical figures were like is than debating about fictional characters
than debating about fictional characters
than debating about fictional characters in our day and age they only exist in
in our day and age they only exist in
in our day and age they only exist in stories I believe a case for presentism
stories I believe a case for presentism
stories I believe a case for presentism exists after all we have been using the
exists after all we have been using the
exists after all we have been using the practice in various ways for a long time
practice in various ways for a long time
practice in various ways for a long time in the 19th century students were
in the 19th century students were
in the 19th century students were expected to study ancient history to
expected to study ancient history to
expected to study ancient history to find therein examples of politics in the
find therein examples of politics in the
find therein examples of politics in the present our political system was
present our political system was
present our political system was inspired by the ancient Greeks to take
inspired by the ancient Greeks to take
inspired by the ancient Greeks to take notes from the past with the purpose of
notes from the past with the purpose of
notes from the past with the purpose of applying it to the future therein must
applying it to the future therein must
applying it to the future therein must lie a judgment in this case we deemed
lie a judgment in this case we deemed
lie a judgment in this case we deemed the Greeks example to be a positive
the Greeks example to be a positive
the Greeks example to be a positive influence my case were in for presentism
influence my case were in for presentism
influence my case were in for presentism can be broken down to two key points
can be broken down to two key points
can be broken down to two key points judging the past leads to apologies and
judging the past leads to apologies and
judging the past leads to apologies and those are needed
those are needed
those are needed second we learn from it and can do
second we learn from it and can do
second we learn from it and can do better let us start with apologies it
better let us start with apologies it
better let us start with apologies it was in 2009 that World War two code
was in 2009 that World War two code
was in 2009 that World War two code breaker alan sharing was often a offered
breaker alan sharing was often a offered
breaker alan sharing was often a offered an apology by Prime Minister Gordon
an apology by Prime Minister Gordon
an apology by Prime Minister Gordon Brown he was arrested in 1952 and his
Brown he was arrested in 1952 and his
Brown he was arrested in 1952 and his crime being homosexual it was not until
crime being homosexual it was not until
crime being homosexual it was not until 50 years ago that the Sexual Offences
50 years ago that the Sexual Offences
50 years ago that the Sexual Offences Act made it legal for two men to be
Act made it legal for two men to be
Act made it legal for two men to be together as long as it was in private
together as long as it was in private
together as long as it was in private and they were over 21 years of age
and they were over 21 years of age
and they were over 21 years of age churring was sentenced to chemical
churring was sentenced to chemical
churring was sentenced to chemical castration by a series of injections of
castration by a series of injections of
castration by a series of injections of female hormones but he killed himself
female hormones but he killed himself
female hormones but he killed himself before this could take full effect why
before this could take full effect why
before this could take full effect why was this apology important
was this apology important
was this apology important apologies are definitely not conclusions
apologies are definitely not conclusions
apologies are definitely not conclusions but they are beginnings not only was it
but they are beginnings not only was it
but they are beginnings not only was it a step in the right direction towards
a step in the right direction towards
a step in the right direction towards equality but for the surviving nieces
equality but for the surviving nieces
equality but for the surviving nieces and nephews of cheering for the
and nephews of cheering for the
and nephews of cheering for the surviving relatives of any gay person
surviving relatives of any gay person
surviving relatives of any gay person who is in justly punished for their
who is in justly punished for their
who is in justly punished for their sexuality there is a sense of peace a
sexuality there is a sense of peace a
sexuality there is a sense of peace a recognition of wrongdoing by our
recognition of wrongdoing by our
recognition of wrongdoing by our government gives calls for optimism that
government gives calls for optimism that
government gives calls for optimism that such won’t happen again in the future
such won’t happen again in the future
such won’t happen again in the future and this isn’t a perfect world hate
and this isn’t a perfect world hate
and this isn’t a perfect world hate crimes still exists but at least says
crimes still exists but at least says
crimes still exists but at least says hope upon saying can you file one bar
hope upon saying can you file one bar
hope upon saying can you file one bar Chou
Chou
Chou we’ll remember villi Brandt’s historic
we’ll remember villi Brandt’s historic
we’ll remember villi Brandt’s historic act in 1970 a silent demonstration of
act in 1970 a silent demonstration of
act in 1970 a silent demonstration of empathy and understanding for the
empathy and understanding for the
empathy and understanding for the victims of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising he
victims of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising he
victims of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising he laid a wreath next to a commemorative
laid a wreath next to a commemorative
laid a wreath next to a commemorative monument and then knelt before it to
monument and then knelt before it to
monument and then knelt before it to what is reported as everyone’s surprise
what is reported as everyone’s surprise
what is reported as everyone’s surprise this was one of the first times that
this was one of the first times that
this was one of the first times that Germany showed remorse for the war not
Germany showed remorse for the war not
Germany showed remorse for the war not only did Brandt mine Germany that Nazism
only did Brandt mine Germany that Nazism
only did Brandt mine Germany that Nazism is something to be remembered with
is something to be remembered with
is something to be remembered with connotations of regret rather than
connotations of regret rather than
connotations of regret rather than forgotten but that through public
forgotten but that through public
forgotten but that through public demonstrations of guilt today room is
demonstrations of guilt today room is
demonstrations of guilt today room is made for reconciliation as an article in
made for reconciliation as an article in
made for reconciliation as an article in Psychology Today put it apology is not
Psychology Today put it apology is not
Psychology Today put it apology is not just a social nicety it is an important
just a social nicety it is an important
just a social nicety it is an important ritual a way of showing respect and
ritual a way of showing respect and
ritual a way of showing respect and empathy for the wronged person for those
empathy for the wronged person for those
empathy for the wronged person for those affected in the past receiving a public
affected in the past receiving a public
affected in the past receiving a public apology can lead to healing and moving
apology can lead to healing and moving
apology can lead to healing and moving past anger no longer perceiving the
past anger no longer perceiving the
past anger no longer perceiving the wrongdoer as a threat one can only
wrongdoer as a threat one can only
wrongdoer as a threat one can only imagine the good the possible goods that
imagine the good the possible goods that
imagine the good the possible goods that this could do for society if a
this could do for society if a
this could do for society if a government meaningfully apologized for
government meaningfully apologized for
government meaningfully apologized for its failures could it lessen or stop
its failures could it lessen or stop
its failures could it lessen or stop Wars could communities feel more
Wars could communities feel more
Wars could communities feel more accepted could it better world relations
accepted could it better world relations
accepted could it better world relations only possibilities but perhaps ones
only possibilities but perhaps ones
only possibilities but perhaps ones worth thinking about moving on to my
worth thinking about moving on to my
worth thinking about moving on to my second point we learn from it I came
second point we learn from it I came
second point we learn from it I came across the following comment posted
across the following comment posted
across the following comment posted online while researching this talk why
online while researching this talk why
online while researching this talk why judge the past when it seems to
judge the past when it seems to
judge the past when it seems to continually elicit a deep disappointment
continually elicit a deep disappointment
continually elicit a deep disappointment in our ancestors they will never live up
in our ancestors they will never live up
in our ancestors they will never live up to our present-day standards this is not
to our present-day standards this is not
to our present-day standards this is not the point of presentism when I judge my
the point of presentism when I judge my
the point of presentism when I judge my past self as we all naturally do I am
past self as we all naturally do I am
past self as we all naturally do I am disappointed by my actions and times of
disappointed by my actions and times of
disappointed by my actions and times of stress arrogance and ignorance I have
stress arrogance and ignorance I have
stress arrogance and ignorance I have pushed people away and manipulated
pushed people away and manipulated
pushed people away and manipulated others closer a classic example of a
others closer a classic example of a
others closer a classic example of a flawed human it pains me and I
flawed human it pains me and I
flawed human it pains me and I cringe to remember so why do I put
cringe to remember so why do I put
cringe to remember so why do I put myself through these reflections because
myself through these reflections because
myself through these reflections because it’s not all I get
it’s not all I get
it’s not all I get I endeavor to learn from that mistake I
I endeavor to learn from that mistake I
I endeavor to learn from that mistake I hope to recognize when I am on the brink
hope to recognize when I am on the brink
hope to recognize when I am on the brink of doing it again and consider my next
of doing it again and consider my next
of doing it again and consider my next move more deeply it makes a difference
move more deeply it makes a difference
move more deeply it makes a difference and arguably this is why presentism is
and arguably this is why presentism is
and arguably this is why presentism is important humanities present situation
important humanities present situation
important humanities present situation can be summed up quite nicely by a quote
can be summed up quite nicely by a quote
can be summed up quite nicely by a quote from Margaret Macmillan we can learn
from Margaret Macmillan we can learn
from Margaret Macmillan we can learn from history but we can also deceive
from history but we can also deceive
from history but we can also deceive ourselves when we selectively take
ourselves when we selectively take
ourselves when we selectively take evidence from the past to justify what
evidence from the past to justify what
evidence from the past to justify what we have already made our minds up to do
we have already made our minds up to do
we have already made our minds up to do there are a great number of examples
there are a great number of examples
there are a great number of examples where we haven’t heeded the advice from
where we haven’t heeded the advice from
where we haven’t heeded the advice from the past but there are also examples in
the past but there are also examples in
the past but there are also examples in which we have and benefits have been
which we have and benefits have been
which we have and benefits have been reaped Woodrow Wilson’s fourteen point
reaped Woodrow Wilson’s fourteen point
reaped Woodrow Wilson’s fourteen point program for world peace
program for world peace
program for world peace following World War one was designed to
following World War one was designed to
following World War one was designed to learn from the past and stop another war
learn from the past and stop another war
learn from the past and stop another war from taking place we do not know how
from taking place we do not know how
from taking place we do not know how effective it would have been if it was
effective it would have been if it was
effective it would have been if it was implemented but we do know that the
implemented but we do know that the
implemented but we do know that the harsh sanctions on Germany which the
harsh sanctions on Germany which the
harsh sanctions on Germany which the program did not support facilitated
program did not support facilitated
program did not support facilitated Hitler rising to power and the coming on
Hitler rising to power and the coming on
Hitler rising to power and the coming on of the Second World War
of the Second World War
of the Second World War learning from the failures of its
learning from the failures of its
learning from the failures of its predecessor the League of Nations the
predecessor the League of Nations the
predecessor the League of Nations the United Nations remains a prosperous
United Nations remains a prosperous
United Nations remains a prosperous institution to this day the introduction
institution to this day the introduction
institution to this day the introduction of their own army which the League of
of their own army which the League of
of their own army which the League of Nations did not have allowed them to
Nations did not have allowed them to
Nations did not have allowed them to take robust action against aggressors an
take robust action against aggressors an
take robust action against aggressors an example of this being in the Korean War
example of this being in the Korean War
example of this being in the Korean War with regards to learning from the past
with regards to learning from the past
with regards to learning from the past and where I think humanity could be I
and where I think humanity could be I
and where I think humanity could be I turned to Edmund Burke who said in
turned to Edmund Burke who said in
turned to Edmund Burke who said in history a great volume is unrolled for
history a great volume is unrolled for
history a great volume is unrolled for our instruction during the materials of
our instruction during the materials of
our instruction during the materials of future wisdom from the past errors and
future wisdom from the past errors and
future wisdom from the past errors and infirmities of mankind we’re never to
infirmities of mankind we’re never to
infirmities of mankind we’re never to look to the past for an understanding of
look to the past for an understanding of
look to the past for an understanding of where we are today and for guidelines
where we are today and for guidelines
where we are today and for guidelines for the future and while doing so we are
for the future and while doing so we are
for the future and while doing so we are bound to use a moral prism it is in our
bound to use a moral prism it is in our
bound to use a moral prism it is in our nature
nature
nature we can even just take a look at GCSE
we can even just take a look at GCSE
we can even just take a look at GCSE history questions one being to what
history questions one being to what
history questions one being to what extent was the Treaty of Versailles
extent was the Treaty of Versailles
extent was the Treaty of Versailles they’re presentism is unavoidable in the
they’re presentism is unavoidable in the
they’re presentism is unavoidable in the academic community advocating the
academic community advocating the
academic community advocating the importance of this practice is bound to
importance of this practice is bound to
importance of this practice is bound to elicit some snares but it’s worth is not
elicit some snares but it’s worth is not
elicit some snares but it’s worth is not found in the analytical essays that
found in the analytical essays that
found in the analytical essays that judge to judge alone rather it is the
judge to judge alone rather it is the
judge to judge alone rather it is the consequences of using presentism
consequences of using presentism
consequences of using presentism striving purely for a politically
striving purely for a politically
striving purely for a politically correct stance that matters an essay on
correct stance that matters an essay on
correct stance that matters an essay on how it was wrong for Cortes Spanish
how it was wrong for Cortes Spanish
how it was wrong for Cortes Spanish conquest adore to invade Mexico killing
conquest adore to invade Mexico killing
conquest adore to invade Mexico killing countless natives on the process and
countless natives on the process and
countless natives on the process and ultimately leading to the genocide of
ultimately leading to the genocide of
ultimately leading to the genocide of the Native Americans it’s not going to
the Native Americans it’s not going to
the Native Americans it’s not going to make much of a difference because we
make much of a difference because we
make much of a difference because we can’t do much about it it’s in the past
can’t do much about it it’s in the past
can’t do much about it it’s in the past yes but the lessons learned and what we
yes but the lessons learned and what we
yes but the lessons learned and what we do with this information can make
do with this information can make
do with this information can make significant differences as Donald Trump
significant differences as Donald Trump
significant differences as Donald Trump President of the United States of
President of the United States of
President of the United States of America attempts to place a wall around
America attempts to place a wall around
America attempts to place a wall around the border of Mexico to stop people in
the border of Mexico to stop people in
the border of Mexico to stop people in need from coming in because they are not
need from coming in because they are not
need from coming in because they are not Americans
Americans
Americans he not only forgets the principles on
he not only forgets the principles on
he not only forgets the principles on which America was built all men are
which America was built all men are
which America was built all men are created equal most of all he forgets
created equal most of all he forgets
created equal most of all he forgets that Americans themselves were
that Americans themselves were
that Americans themselves were immigrants
immigrants
immigrants we’re not apologizing for the
we’re not apologizing for the
we’re not apologizing for the persecution of say the lgbtq+ community
persecution of say the lgbtq+ community
persecution of say the lgbtq+ community how are they expected to feel accepted
how are they expected to feel accepted
how are they expected to feel accepted in the present without a public apology
in the present without a public apology
in the present without a public apology what are we teaching the children of
what are we teaching the children of
what are we teaching the children of this generation we may not be to blame
this generation we may not be to blame
this generation we may not be to blame for what happened but we are responsible
for what happened but we are responsible
for what happened but we are responsible for what happens next
for what happens next
for what happens next freaka also convincingly argues people
freaka also convincingly argues people
freaka also convincingly argues people who have been wronged by the state
who have been wronged by the state
who have been wronged by the state deserve an apology by the state even if
deserve an apology by the state even if
deserve an apology by the state even if the individuals and government are
the individuals and government are
the individuals and government are different from those at the time and so
different from those at the time and so
different from those at the time and so look at your moral compass speak out
look at your moral compass speak out
look at your moral compass speak out against the past and then use presentism
against the past and then use presentism
against the past and then use presentism to teach others through your learning
to teach others through your learning
to teach others through your learning through your example ultimately judging
through your example ultimately judging
through your example ultimately judging the past is important to better the
the past is important to better the
the past is important to better the present and who doesn’t want that
present and who doesn’t want that
present and who doesn’t want that you
you
you [Applause]
”
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