Only then, approaching my fortieth birthday, I made philosophy my life's work.
Karl JaspersRead
What is still more to our shame as civilized Christians, we debauch their morals already too prone to vice, and we introduce among them wants and perhaps disease which they never before knew and which serve only to disturb that happy tranquility which they and their forefathers enjoyed. If anyone denies the truth of this assertion, let him tell me what the natives of the whole extent of America have gained by the commerce they have had with Europeans.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote criticizes the negative impact of European colonization on indigenous populations.
James Cook reflects on the moral implications of European colonization, highlighting how it corrupts the morals of indigenous peoples and introduces new desires and diseases, disrupting their previously peaceful existence. He challenges the notion that such contact has benefited native populations, questioning the true gains of commerce with Europeans.
Themes
ColonizationMoralityIndigenousCommerceImpact
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about the effects of colonization on indigenous cultures.
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