>The contentious question is: for every Aristotle in the top 10%, how many were in the bottom 90% that were denied that possible future by force?
And the even more contentious question is: how many are in the same place today? Lack of money when growing up and circumstance can be equally as brute as force to deny someone his "possible future" as anything else. How many readers does HN have that are San Francisco natives and how many that are, say, from Mississippi or Alabama combined?
With ~2 million people in jail, some million homeless and several tens of millions eating with coups and soul kitchens, one of basic differences now is that we have the luxury (hypocrisy?) to blame them instead of some institution like slavery.
And the even more contentious question is: how many are in the same place today? Lack of money when growing up and circumstance can be equally as brute as force to deny someone his "possible future" as anything else. How many readers does HN have that are San Francisco natives and how many that are, say, from Mississippi or Alabama combined?
With ~2 million people in jail, some million homeless and several tens of millions eating with coups and soul kitchens, one of basic differences now is that we have the luxury (hypocrisy?) to blame them instead of some institution like slavery.