Historiosophistry

It's a mere 32 years old, but still a bit too relevant - Leslez Kolakowski on Edward Thompson's 'double standards of evaluation' (pdf):

And when I say "double standards" I do not mean indulgence for the justifiable inexperience of the "new society" in coping with new problems. I mean the use, alternatively, of political or moral standards to similar situations and this I find unjustifiable. We must not be fervent moralists in some cases and Real-politikers or philosophers of world history in others, depending on political circumstances.

... I simply refuse to join people who show how their hearts are bleeding to death when they hear about any, big or minor (and rightly condemnable) injustice in the US and suddenly become wise historiosophists or cool rationalists when told about worse horrors of the new alternative society.

If you like scorn, spleen and contempt, you should probably read it all. (via Norm)