Those of our ancestors who were slaves did not like being slaves, and those who were oppressed by monarchies did not like being oppressed. Now some of them may have supported slavery and monarchy in principle, but their morality was clearly broken because they were made deeply unhappy by institutions which they approved of behind a Rawlsian veil of ignorance.
Women didn’t like the particulars of gendered oppression, so we’ve clearly made progress by their standards.
Actually, victims of oppressive systems often support them. Many girls get clitoridectomies because their mothers demand it, even against their fathers’ wishes.
Yes, you can find ways in which victims are made to be complicit in their oppression. But it’s not hard to find ways in which victims genuinely suffer, and that’s all that’s needed for an objective moral standard.
Those of our ancestors who were slaves did not like being slaves, and those who were oppressed by monarchies did not like being oppressed. Now some of them may have supported slavery and monarchy in principle, but their morality was clearly broken because they were made deeply unhappy by institutions which they approved of behind a Rawlsian veil of ignorance.
Women didn’t like the particulars of gendered oppression, so we’ve clearly made progress by their standards.
EDIT: Why the downvotes?
Actually, victims of oppressive systems often support them. Many girls get clitoridectomies because their mothers demand it, even against their fathers’ wishes.
Yes, you can find ways in which victims are made to be complicit in their oppression. But it’s not hard to find ways in which victims genuinely suffer, and that’s all that’s needed for an objective moral standard.
NMDV, but maybe it’s for “their morality was clearly broken”?