Abolition of Slavery | Nigel Biggar #clip

Professor Nigel Biggar offers important historical context about the modern debate about colonialism. He reminds us that although atrocities did occur throughout the British Empire, it cannot be forgotten that the slavery - a truly evil practice - was first abolished by the British at an exceptional cost to themselves.

Nigel John Biggar CBE is Regius Professor of Moral and Pastoral Theology at the University of Oxford, author, Anglican priest, and theologian. He also directs the McDonald Centre for Theology, Ethics and Public Life at Oxford which aims to foster a conversation between Christian theology and other disciplines.

In 2017, Biggar initiated the Oxford project “Ethics and Empire” which aimed to scrutinise a purely negative view of empires and argue that they were morally mixed. Historians and academics widely criticised the project for 'attempting to balance out the violence committed in the name of empire with its supposed benefits.'

Recently, Nigel published What’s Wrong with Rights? arguing that society’s modern rights conversation reduces the importance of fostering civic virtues.

#imperialism #colonisation #oxford
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Conversations feature John Anderson, former Deputy Prime Minister of Australia, interviewing the world's foremost thought leaders about today's pressing social, cultural and political issues.

John believes proper, robust dialogue is necessary if we are to maintain our social strength and cohesion. As he puts it; "You cannot get good public policy out of a bad public debate."

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Nigel Biggar

[oliverreno]

If you existed at any time from the 1600s to recent times, the chances were that you were going to be in someone's empire. The reality is that if you had to choose which empire you had to be in, you'd have chosen the British empire, every single time.

[kaylenehousego]

It would be good to talk further on the reality you have raised regarding current slavery, in our world right now in 2022 John .

[philiprenshaw]

I believe it's pure envy, nothing more nothing less.
Historically the achievements of Britain and Europe in general were instrumental in changing the world for the better. The grifters focus on slavery, as terrible as it was to deflect from their own contributions.

[dansmith]

White men that allowed women to vote but that doesn't get mentioned either. If men really didn't want women to vote, they wouldn't.

[jacobdoiron]

They did it, and it was bad...but everyone else was doing it too...and they did stop and some point.
So it was a win really, they were the best among deplorables...

We can celebrate historical victories without being apologists for terrible behaviour in the past.

I think people often are more upset about perceived failures of their own societies than those of peoples far away. We should certainly care about things like slavery around the world. That doesn't mean we can't understand and be critical of our own past as well.

[N.E.S.D.R]

Switch the B and the N in his name, the sun shall plummet into the earth.

[feirnd]

This episode lacks basic rigor -- cannibalism was not uncommon around the world till several hundred years ago; are you advocating that modern society should not demonize cannibals in history?