Philosopher Thomas R. Wells Argues Fixation on European Colonialism Is a Mistake
In an essay for 3 Quarks Daily, Thomas R. Wells, a philosophy instructor in the Netherlands and writer for The Philosopher's Beard, contends that the emphasis on European colonialism is misdirected. He asserts that the politics of pity creates a divide, portraying individuals in impoverished nations as victims and those in affluent nations as oppressors, thereby denying moral agency to poorer countries. Wells disputes the idea that colonialism is the sole reason for wealth inequality, highlighting that global production has seen substantial growth over the past two centuries. He attributes the reduction of extreme poverty to capitalism and suggests that wealthy nations might have experienced even more rapid growth without the burden of colonialism, which he considers a significant error. He calls for a thorough examination of whether colonialism is the complete explanation for persistent poverty.
Key facts
- Thomas R. Wells teaches philosophy in the Netherlands and blogs at The Philosopher's Beard
- The essay was published by 3 Quarks Daily
- Wells argues the politics of pity divides the world into victims in poor countries and perpetrators in rich countries
- He says moral agency of political actors in poor countries is excised by blaming colonialism for their wrongs
- Wells rejects the belief that rich countries are rich only because of colonialism and poor countries poor only because of colonialism
- He credits capitalism, not colonialism, for escaping extreme poverty, citing economists since Adam Smith
- Wells argues rich countries would have gotten richer faster without colonialism, calling it a costly mistake
- He identifies the fallacy of the objectionable cause behind claims that colonialism causes global poverty and unfreedom today
Entities
Artists
- Thomas R. Wells
- Adam Smith
Institutions
- 3 Quarks Daily
- The Philosopher's Beard
Locations
- Netherlands
- Britain
- Spain
- North America
- Australasia