Empires of Modernity

Modernity is many things. Urbanization, industrialization, technologization. At its simplest, it’s a project of supposed improvement, science, and progress. As a project, then, modernity seeks to expand itself. If improvements can be made, they should be made.
Exploration was at the heart of the modern expansionist drive that began in earnest in the 17th century. But why then? Why not before? What shifts in psychology led to this new attitude in Europe about an unexplored world?
We can sometimes see shifts in the most unexpected places.
In the early modern period, philosophers like Machiavelli, Thomas Hobbes, and Adam Smith, began to reinterpret morality as the pursuit of pleasure, power, and profit. In 1747 Jean-Jacques Burlham wrote that ‘Now let man reflect but ever so little on himself, he will soon perceive that everything he does is with a view of happiness’. By 1776, Adam Smith could write that “It is not from the benevolence (kindness) of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interest."
Since, the scientific revolution it was beginning to be assumed that human nature was calculable, scientific, had simple principles, that people act in rational and predictable ways.
Happiness, pleasure, utility, whatever it was, was pursued, stored up, or, to use a word that the utilitarian Jeremy Bentham invented in 1817, maximized.
How did this have an effect on world history? On the mentalities and psychology of people in the West.
We explore the links between modern philosophy and British Imperial, particularly through William Dalrymple’s book on the rise of the East India Company and the decline of the Mughal Empire - the Anarchy.
The history looks at the life of the megalomaniacal Robert Clive, the idea of Gentlemanly Capitalism, theories of Imperialism, and, most horrifyingly, the Great Indian Bengal Famine of 1770, where a third of the population of Bengal died.
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Credits:
David Wooton, Power, Pleasure, and Profit: Insatiable Appetites from Machiavelli to Madison
Dipak Basu, Victorian Miroshnik, Imperialism and Capitalism
Lenin, Imperialism, The Highest State of Capitalism
Mike Davis, Late Victorian Holocausts
P.J. Cain and A.G. Hopkins, British Imperialism 1688-2015
William Dalrymple, The Anarchy: The Relentless Rise of the East India Company
Bernard Semmel, The Philosophic Radicals and Colonialism

[@cacssarcaeustan2543]

You might have one of the best philosophy channels on yt. Sadly most of the themes you touch on your videos are not in line with the mainstream views so you don't get many views. Still a grat gem for those of us who had the luck of stumbling upon your channel

[@edoedo8686]

So agree.

[@edoedo8686]

I am re-watching the program. There is much to think about. Among my musing is slavery and how it functioned in this...

[@mcchilde2903]

I think that should change, I usually watch the mainstream stuff you are talking about, and yet this channel was on my feed yesterday

[@danielwalton8633]

was literally just talking about this with my partner haha

[@gregorygarcia7807]

I will trust that english is not your first language. Please take your "Mainstream Views" and put them where the sun don't shine. We are trying to learn here.

[@marceloadelar]

"The idea of consigning over to a joint-stock association the political administration of an Empire is so preposterous that if it were now for the first time proposed it would be deemed not merely an absurdity but an insult to the minus understanding of the realm" - And yet, since the 80s, most of the countries that once were colonies are handing over public services to the global market in the form of Privatization, taking steps back toward a new form of neoliberal subservience that has much in debt to the East India Trading Company: global financial imperialism.

[@mikkopenttila7604]

That's not just happening in former colonies - all countries. The same patterns that led to the Bengal famine would later directly cause the Irish potato famine. Markets are certainly necessary but even Adam Smith agreed with the need for regulation. And in any case capitalism is not the same as the free market, since one of the main reasons for the need for regulation is to prevent the formation of monopolies. If the naïve model of capitalism we're being sold was ever true, then the EIC would've gone to India to compete in selling the Indian peasants the best goods and services instead of exploiting them.

[@edoedo8686]

Yes so true.

[@Enzaio]

I wonder how Amazon then compares to the East India Trading Company. At least the latter eventually got defeated, but I don't see any way Amazon can. Same goes for Facebook, Google and a couple others.

[@mikkopenttila7604]

@@Enzaio Exploitation will certainly be the norm but it's difficult to say in what way exactly since robots will increasingly replace human labor.

[@edoedo8686]

@@EnzaioI think MCDONALD'S, Nike, HBC, Trump holdings, would be more approciate examples of rapacious Capitalism....

[@johnarbuckle2619]

Prime quality content here.

[@SeaofFog]

Exceptional. Your channel is the definition of Jameson's call to "Always historicize!" I only wish they showed your videos in classrooms so more people could learn from them.

[@graemelaubach3106]

One of the best creators by far. You, sir, are brilliant!

[@simeonasmith]

Closely linked to my doctoral research! Many thanks.

[@dimitricariou]

Great content! I loved this video, one of my favorite because it combined the feel I got from the Shock of Modernity and Orwell’s shooting an elephant. Keep up the good work :)

[@MattStranberg]

Your channel is incredible. Love everything you do and share it with everyone I know!

[@Phi792]

your vids have a great (and consistent) aesthetic appeal

[@mountaintop0925]

THAT...my friend...was amazing! Thank you so very much, Gabriel

[@chrisgreene2070]

Absolutely love this channel! Keep it coming! Your production value is amazing sir 👏

[@victors8718]

I can't belive this has only 3k views

[@nah9585]

Quality here, has no proportional relation with view count. Really nice work - the narration, the visuals, the edit, all of it; just very good

[@eorobinson3]

Your dark-pursuit of modernities mundane instrumentally reasoned underbelly, is always a grandly refreshing exploration into historical modalities (Oakeshott) that produce both truth and terrible untruth.

[@saloniaurora]

Brother, I can't thank you enough for this 🙏

[@Megaghost_]

Great quality, this channel is a gem!

[@user-gf5dr5nq6l]

loved this one. please do more history related content.

[@edoedo8686]

Wow. Superb program. A lot here to think about--need to view this again.

[@joel.llerena]

Best content on KZbin. Very thought-provoking!

[@iohboklangkhongjoh1615]

Simply beautiful.

[@Jaydizzle4eva]

Love this guys content. Well thought out and nicely produced. Interesting subjects one and all.

[@SevenStarlitLakes]

Another outstanding production of Then&Now. Many thanks~!~

[@richardsawicki8521]

I only watch this for the pictures.( I do however listen to it for the content!) Keep up the good work!

[@saadsubhan7607]

You're killing it man. Can you please do a video on Kant soon.

[@markbaigrie8891]

Wow, that was brill. Thanks for this informative view of The East India Company.

[@wahlex]

Incredible video from an incredible channel

[@inm42]

Thanks a lot for this video, the history of the East India Company is truly fascinating (and frightening). Out of curiosity, have you done any videos, or will you in the future write anything, on the topic(s) of fascism and populism? It could fit well with all the work you have on modernity and 20th century thought. I see you have already done stuff on anarchy and property which I look forward to watching!

[@amulyamishra5745]

Intellectually speaking, this is very honest and accurate analysis of The Raj. I don't think British destroyed India rather than the Company did. And when Indians retaliated and Brits lost their lives, it created a domino effect of hatred from the British towards a race and vice versa.

[@truerealist757]

This is the faulty reasoning that shames the perpesquity of this channel. The West India Company was the collective Will and Philosophy of England at the time. And since Desire/Pleasure/Profit is the motive forces of men we must conclude than a co-operate entity that was so unscrupulous would have continued only if it brought both pleasure and profit to the motherland.

[@amulyamishra5745]

@@truerealist757 I think you have typed through voice commands. There are mistakes and I can't understand what you're saying.

[@truerealist757]

@@amulyamishra5745 read it without the glasses or filter again.

[@hairymcnipples]

@@truerealist757 the irony of trying to insult someone else over your original comment. - "perpesquity" isn't even a word. - you have "than" for "that". - you also appear to have a subject-verb agreement error around "co-operate" - but it's hard to tell because of the other errors which make it difficult to guess what you're trying to say. The first in particular does in fact make it near-impossible to understand fully what you're trying to say. Drop the flowery language - which you clearly lack the ability to use properly - and you may have more luck. You should however also remember that it is *your* responsibility as a writer to write in a clear and unambiguous way. You're the one trying to communicate something. If people can't tell what you're trying to say that is a failure on *your* part. Using unnecessarily complex language doesn't make you look smart even when you get it right, it makes you look arrogant. When you make multiple errors it makes you look foolish and arrogant. When you try to take someone else to task for rightly pointing out the errors you made you also look like an asshole.

[@truerealist757]

I don't apologize for a typo...Perspicuity is the word. And mke of my comment whatever makes you feel best.

[@richardsawicki8521]

It is in my own selfish self interest that I wish to share with others and look out for their well being because it makes me feel good and they might return the favor. I might even sacrifice myself for others because if I didn't I would feel bad. Enlightened self interest. Selfishness for a social creature could be for the greater good. I think a vast majority of people feel this way and they project it on to others so they don't see the socio paths coming. What this world needs is a good sociopath alarm.

[@richardsawicki8521]

I just stumbled upon this channel. The rest is history!

[@eorobinson3]

Strong productional and narrative quality, once again.

[@TealiciousTea7]

Good video of a vary dark topic. Learned more details on a important subject of the and its influence on the present the then & now.

[@user-ez9is7lb9p]

On the point about the textile industry, I would like to point out the industrialisation outcompetes cottage industry everywhere so it’s not surprising that the trade shares flipped. Please check this because I only heard it once and getting the figures is a pain, but I believe aggregate production from the cloth industry increased throughout the 20th century. Perhaps the stagnation of GDP per capita can be explained by the Malthusian trap of rapid population growth negating GDP increases? None the less that famine is tragic. Great video as always.

[@jchen5803]

Thanks! Learned a lot!

[@juandanielvillarroncancio6736]

I LOVE YOUR WORK.

[@ricoravioli2306]

This is phenomenal

[@curtissjamesd]

Great work, you have an incredible talent

[@dionysianapollomarx]

Cool stuff yet again.

[@BurlapJohnW]

Thanks!

[@DEUSexPOLSKA]

This is just amazing

[@jamesp8819]

amazing work!

[@ayushsinha2000]

Great video!

[@ashish3354]

Got frisson after watching this. Thanks so much for this

[@mustfaaboassd]

This video is gold

[@ozlemdenli7763]

amazing video

[@appleslover]

This might sound a bit irrelevant but how do people of these empires deal with their history once they learn about it? How do British people nowadays view such actions of the Empire? Do they try to label it as something else from history to not cause a serious harm or a paradigm shift to their national pride? DOES IT cause such things? Do they try to justify it? These questions could be asked to many other recent empires that faded in the last century, and to the Americans today . Essentially the question is: who is to blame, who are WE as of history and what are our responsibilities to such things ? (I'm not trying to blame anyone here so don't be too defensive, I really want to about this topic or even see a discussion of it and you can answer ignoring the Blame part)

[@brawlbrewer7509]

Yeah, diff ppl (or countries) have diff interpretation of the history (the actions of the Empire), also the time period of teaching history also matters. Like the history which might have been taught few years after the departure of the British Empire might include only one perspective, as compared to the history taught rn, that tries to include multiple perspective.

[@azliaheaven2800]

@@brawlbrewer7509 in a way that questions are why historic revisionism exists

[@TealiciousTea7]

In the UK, it depends really. The history of the British empire isn't taught in Scotland. On school level if chosen history classes are more Nazi's, William Wallace and Suffragettes. Many only learn a little history alongside geography and some knowledge of political institutions. I can't speak at university level what history they teach but in social sciences I learned of British empire's history. For people like in the social justice camp it is oh, that is horrible but in the past. Sort of like how current Germans aren't Nazi's we wouldn't ask them to justify why in the past people in their country voted in Fascists and tried to conquer Europe as well as the Final Solution. For people proud of the UK they focus on institutions like the NHS, or how we like to talk about about the weather, etc. For Scotland wearing kilt's, the accent and hating the English. Wales their language. Ireland is a whole complicated topic in of itself the people hating the empire for their own grim history. Some might be proud of the Empire but I imagine nowadays that is more of an English thing in very general terms. Scottish people like to forget we played major role in Empire and the Independence movement has gain popular appeal after the breakup of the British empire (not saying the breakup of the Empire is the cause the independence movement in Scotland btw). Taking responsibility is usually seen in terms of recognition rather than any material acts. Recognition is not that important for Britishness though. More a part of social justice movements.

[@alejandrosanchez6722]

Cool chanel, greetings from Mexico

[@5ivearrows]

"The Anarchy" by William Dalrymple is one of the best books I've ever read on the EIC in India.

[@Fusilier7]

It was more than the East India company, there was also the Dutch VOC, Vereenigde Oostindische Companie, who plundered Indonesia and Sri Lanka, they also set up a trade post in South Africa, leading to European colonisation that would create Apartheid.

[@Cherokie89]

I never really grasped just how horrific the east India company was until now, and by extension just how monstrous the British empire was in its treatment of India.

[@demivydE]

Yet they still dare to call themselves " great"

[@3746463]

1. From Greenland’s icy mountains, From India’s coral strand, Where Afric’s sunny fountains Roll down their golden sand, From many an ancient river, From many a palmy plain, They call us to deliver Their land from error’s chain. 2. What though the spicy breezes Blow soft o’er Ceylon’s isle; Though every prospect pleases, And only man is vile: In vain with lavish kindness The gifts of God are strown; The heathen in his blindness Bows down to wood and stone. 3. Can we, whose souls are lighted With wisdom from on high, Can we to men benighted The lamp of life deny? Salvation! O salvation! The joyful sound proclaim, Till each remotest nation Has learned Messiah’s Name. Reginald Heber (1819)

[@indonesiamenggugat8795]

🌷🌷

[@GambleZee]

Interesting

[@eorobinson3]

Do a video on Conservative post-modernism beginning with Michael Oakshott.

[@Frank20101978]

A great video, even if the title is completely misleading. 'Modernity' is not defined by the abhorrent sins of the East India Company.

[@TheDanielMoldoveanu]

Can you give us the soundtrack too?

[@georgestacey9558]

Not sure I always agree with your conclusions but I learn alot from you channel and I am glad to have found it. Had left a comment yesterday disagreeing with some of what you said, but on falling asleep I wasn't so sure I could disagree, so on finding no response I deleted it (have to think more about it) very interesting video.

[@naushadahmed8090]

The Horror!! The Horror!!

[@NomisIsGozulike]

To be honest, the east india trading company was rather mercantilism than a free market enterprise.

[@sahilhossian8212]

Lore of Empires of Modernity momentum 100

[@ivanbenisscott]

👍🏼👍🏼

[@TaufiqueJoarder]

Bengal of that time is the present day Bangladesh, and Indian states of West Bengal, Bihar and Odisha.

[@yeasr7781]

Why wasn't I shown this earlier

[@fabiodeoliveiraribeiro1602]

India was extremely rich and it reached its peak when it started to trade with the British and let them infiltrate there and exploit and create internal conflicts. Centuries later, India was a colony of England, the English became rich, the Indians became poor. Now something similar is happening in the opposite direction. The Americans' ambition to exploit China as the British exploited India resulted in the enrichment of the Chinese and the downfall of the United States. The dedication of China's rulers to the meticulous study of History and Americans' contempt for it obviously made a difference.

[@vidividivicious]

Walpole!!!

[@jibdee]

Well presented! Also, does anyone know of any pro-British accounts of Britain's exploits in India? I'm interested in obtaining a balanced perspective on the matter.

[@richardsawicki8521]

Check Rudyard Kipling for heroic tales(some"twice told") of plucky Brits shouldering the "white man's burden".

[@AyushKumar-uu2yd]

angus maddison william dalrymple

[@fighterpilot9981]

A population graph of India should tell you something about what British rule actually did. I believe what he says at 24:00 is mostly correct, but his statement has much more to do with the enormous population increases that British rule allowed, rather than from economic stagnation. Claims of that are absurd, given the substantial total gdp growth during the Raj. This is not to mention technological introduction, huge expansions of education (and therefore literacy) etc.

[@Lakshyam9]

@@fighterpilot9981 'expansion of education' ?? Really? While the English were cave-dwellers, Indian sages wrote the sublime philosophical treatises of the Vedas. Educate us indeed 😏🙄 The British totally DESTROYED the indigenous GURUKULA system of education in India, supplanting it with a slavish system of producing 'brown Sahibs'.

[@fighterpilot9981]

@@Lakshyam9 What do texts from 1000 BC have to do with the post-1800 state of affairs? By the way, how much did Indian society advance between those two years? How about since? This is not to argue that British rule was all positive, but it's about the last reason that India is relatively poor today.

[@19BenZ57]

from PERSIA ArmeniA Israel with Passion

[@Sigrdrifaz]

I don't know. Its crazy. I need fullingness.

[@IndustrialBonecraft]

Erm, so what is a robber button?

[@richardsawicki8521]

The East India company sounds like Goldman Sachs or something

[@bangbang07]

Gripping, as always

[@HxH2011DRA]

"A great embarrassing fact haunts all attempts to represent the market as the highest form of human freedom... markets originate in theft."- David Graeber, Debt: the First 5000 years Planned economy's are liberatory

[@aal-e-ahmadhussain3123]

A point often forgotten is that Colonialism deprived, dispossessed, “disciplined” and down-trod it’s own domestic populations before it colonised foreign lands and their native peoples (see: Graeme Gill, The Nature & Development of the Modern State. 2004).

[@Syllogyzym]

[@SpirallingUpwards]

This was a fucking harrowing video to watch. Does anyone have any sources of Indians who commented on the occupation of India by the british?

[@anthonyjameson7129]

Of course it was private company while councer India, but Imperial soldiers fought for them. Capitalism and imperialism at their "best"

[@sethsballs8479]

I had no idea the scope of power the BEIC had. Truly horrifying. Basically a picture of the logical conclusion of far right libertarianism.

[@nooneinparticular3370]

It's incredible that you describe an immensely mercantilistic economic system based on a goverment monopoly with full-on corporate welfare and lobbying and then go on to blame free markets.

[@dimitricariou]

I think he described how free market destroyed local economies and how it caused a famine that killed millions of people, no?

[@terrystevens3998]

Corporate welfare and lobbyists are part of a free market, end stage capitalism is not a free market gone wrong it is a free market working exactly how it is intended to. Government monopoly is the basis of a free market, a free market can not exist in nature without the government having a monopoly on control

[@nooneinparticular3370]

@@terrystevens3998 ur mom

[@hairymcnipples]

you know that in a free market we would absolutely expect those behaviours, right? The lobbying and corporate welfare went on precisely because it wasn't regulated against. It's the natural outcome of a free market. Of course if they are free to, businesses will try to manipulate government in their favour. Why would they compete fairly if they don't have to?

[@SofaKingShit]

I love these Adam Curtis inspired videos but the music makes it hard to follow the narrative.

[@inm42]

"And don't you think that is a little uncivil of us?" The self-awareness of the barbaric imperialist is breathtaking.

[@christopherellis2663]

I have been to Delhi , which is extremely smelly

[@Damesanglante]

Brittish conquer and force their capitaliste ideology : ''Then & Now'', a brittish '''It WaSn'T tHe BriTtISh.'' *sigh*

[@thetaeater]

Glad more people are learning about how the decline of India played out. On the flip side your videos always give me blue ballz because you always insert these 1 sided matter of fact statements when you the narrator has no one to answer to. The age of Kali is here to stay for a long long long time, get used to the misery.

[@obbeachbum69]

Outstanding piece of propaganda. Good job. I just wonder what your endgame is...

[@gregorygarcia7807]

What would help me to Achieve Emotional Mastery would to not have to see phony christian crosses on any wall that tries to take one's study time away with selfish intention. We don't need to pretend that anything is going to change or help this capitalist/fascist system we find ourselves born into. There are laws against it.

[@martinsuo8712]

Thanks!