eli5: what do people mean when they say we should not judge historical figures by modern standards?
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Imagine you’re playing a game with your friends, and the rules of the game change over time. When your parents were young, they might have played a different version of the game with different rules than you do now. Just like games change, the way people think and behave also changes over time.
In the past, people had different beliefs, ideas, and ways of doing things. They didn’t always know what we know now or understand things the same way we do. So when we look at historical figures, we have to remember that they lived in different times with different rules and beliefs.
It’s important to remember that what was considered right or wrong, fair or unfair, in the past may not be the same as what we believe today. Judging historical figures by our modern standards means we’re looking at them using the rules and ideas we have now, and that might not be fair to them.
Instead, we should try to understand them by learning about the time they lived in, their beliefs, and the challenges they faced. We can learn from their mistakes and celebrate their accomplishments, but we should do it while keeping in mind the differences between their time and ours.
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