2007-12-12 15:04:23 · 4 answers · asked by Mayonaise 6 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
Imperialism involves extending one's hegemony over others. If it involves exploiting the others for the benefit of the hegemon, it is intrinsically evil. If, on the other hand, either as the primary or incidental goal, it has the function of extending the benefits of a higher civilization to the subjects of the empire then it transits from evil to something doing good.
One thing imperialism does not foster is liberty on the part of the conquered parts of the empire. Was India better off when England was shouldering "the white man's burden" or when it threw off the UK yoke and got independence. Clearly, the Indians thought the latter was preferable and that the former was either evil or, at least, not good. So, from the viewpoint of liberty and freedom, imperialism is less than good, even when intended to be benign.
2007-12-12 15:38:11 · answer #1 · answered by LucaPacioli1492 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Imperialism by itself can neither be good nor evil..... good or evil would depend on the means adopted to spread and sustain the empire.
2007-12-12 15:26:00 · answer #2 · answered by small 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good for the imperialist because they get what they want, bad for those they conquer or their enemies who lose what used to be theirs. Except that an imperialist attitude can end up making the imperialist country/leader more enemies, so I would say it's all-around evil.
2007-12-12 15:12:06 · answer #3 · answered by Meg 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your are in the side of the empire: Good
If you are in the other side: Evil.
2007-12-12 15:18:23 · answer #4 · answered by Lost. at. Sea. 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋