this post was submitted on 01 Jul 2024
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[–] chonglibloodsport@lemmy.world -3 points 4 months ago (2 children)

Millions of deaths compared to what alternative? The difficulty with attributing causes in history is that we have no ability to conduct controlled experiments.

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 9 points 4 months ago (2 children)

"Listen, the Crusades seemed bad, sure. And the Mongolian hordes did kill a lot of people. And maybe the globe spanning feudal industrialization of Victorian Era England leading headlong into a pair of World Wars decimated whole continents. But hear me out. Maybe coulda been worse?"

[–] jorp@lemmy.world 7 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Unfortunately there is no double blind studied alternative to capitalism that demonstrates without a doubt that it's statistically significantly better than capitalism as a system so I'm sorry to tell you that your children deserve to die because you're too poor, hope that helps

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 9 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Unfortunately there is no double blind studied alternative to capitalism

I'll never understand why people believe clinical trials for pharmaceutical efficiency are the baseline for all forms of scientific inquiry and sociological research.

How on earth do we study astronomy, paleontology, or seismology without double-blind trials?

[–] jorp@lemmy.world 7 points 4 months ago

We just have to let the capitalist experiment play out. When this world is destroyed whatever humans remain if any will start the next trial. Trust me, capitalism still has a fighting chance.

[–] chonglibloodsport@lemmy.world 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

If you’re going to propose a communist paradise as an alternative to human-sacrificing Bronze Age god-kings, I’m going to call you out as being a little bit unrealistic. Government isn’t just an idea, it’s a technology, and it relies on other technologies (communication, record-keeping, organization) to function.

The kinship networks of pre-agrarian indigenous groups worked just fine when everyone knew each other. Where things started getting difficult is when agriculture paved the way for population explosions.

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 1 points 4 months ago

If you’re going to propose a communist paradise as an alternative

Claiming that paradise is preferable to purgatory is not the same thing as knowing the road out of hell.

The kinship networks of pre-agrarian indigenous groups worked just fine when everyone knew each other.

One of the most effective methods for instituting an enduring state of capitalist exploitation is alienating you from your neighbors.

[–] Ptsf@lemmy.world 3 points 4 months ago

That is the question best asked I suppose.