Being an abolitionist in half the country was virtue signalling
That may be true, but those today that totally would have stood up against all the injustice don't think about it that way. They think of themselves of the white knights that would have freed the slaves against all odds.
That's why the thought experiment still makes sense. It's meant to humble the egos of these people (and ourselves of course), make them question their perceived virtue. It's something people need to be reminded of very regularily. Most of us wouldn't stand up, neither today nor yesterday, against what we feel is unjust, if our whole livelihood could be destroyed in the process.
Hell, a lot of us wouldn't even feel something is unjust if we weren't told it is.
That may be true, but those today that totally would have stood up against all the injustice don't think about it that way. They think of themselves of the white knights that would have freed the slaves against all odds.
That's why the thought experiment still makes sense. It's meant to humble the egos of these people (and ourselves of course), make them question their perceived virtue. It's something people need to be reminded of very regularily. Most of us wouldn't stand up, neither today nor yesterday, against what we feel is unjust, if our whole livelihood could be destroyed in the process.
Hell, a lot of us wouldn't even feel something is unjust if we weren't told it is.
My indian part was fighting to keep his slaves, and my irish part died for the union.