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Human Progress

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ecstian

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Human Progress

There is a passage on page 20-21 that made me reflect upon the ability of humans to act in such an uncivilized and barbarous nature. It also made me thankful that most of us currently do not live in societies where such actions are the norm.

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In a sudden turn of events, of the sort that define this politically volatile era, De Witt and his brother were assassinated by a mob, on the false suspicion that they were traitors to the Dutch cause in the ongoing war with France. Assailants clubbed and knifed both De Witts as they dragged them on the way to the gallows, and by the time they arrived there was no need to hang them anymore. They proceeded to undress the corpses, suspend them upside down, butcher-shop style, and quarter them. The fragments were sold as souvenirs, eaten raw, or eaten cooked, amid the most sickening merriment.

This was done during Hollands "Golden Age" in 1672.

Eric

Sat Mar 06, 2004 5:45 pm

ZachSylvanus

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Re: Human Progress

I don't know if it's the fact that we've progressed, necessarily. Mobs do strange, illogical, brutal things. If you think things have changed, what about the mob of Nazi Germany? The simple fact is that once a group of people begins functioning together out of fear, or hatred, or some strong emotion, the other emotions tend to be reduced, like some sort of awful, horrifying positive feedback loop that amplifies the raw emotion of the mob.

Tue Mar 09, 2004 12:27 am


ecstian Finally Comfortable Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 52 Thanks: 0 Thanked: 0 time in 0 post Gender:	Re: Human Progress Zach, I am not sure that we have necessarily progressed either as a whole. Note that I couched my statement with the words "most of us" as in those involved on this forum and "currently" indicating that the situation could change, and the "norm" allowing for the possibility of such actions today, even if not commonplace. Whether we have progressed much or not is a difficult thing to determine. One day I think so, then the next not so much so. I do hope that we are progressing, however. Eric
Tue Mar 09, 2004 4:10 pm

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