Why Do We Remember War? | Philosophy Tube
Every November we remember war, the army, and military history, often with poppies. But philosopher Benedict Anderson would say it’s a reflection of aggressive nationalism. How can we remember war in a way that fosters peace? How can we use our own patriotism, politics, and history responsibly?
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Recommended Reading:
Transcript for this Episode: http://tinyurl.com/huegt89
Idea Channel: What’s the Difference Between History and the Past? http://tinyurl.com/j77pmvc
Edward Said, “Culture and Imperialism” http://tinyurl.com/hed3e3r
Benedict Anderson, “Imagined Communities” http://tinyurl.com/z2t7al4
Johan Galtung, “Violence, War, and their Impact”
http://tinyurl.com/hwz4l3s
Mark Bou Mansour, “How the West Lies to Itself in Order to Destroy the Other” http://tinyurl.com/zxgwypv
Alexander Anievas and Kerem Nisancioglu, “How the West Came to Rule” http://tinyurl.com/jrwtm37
“Drumbeat: Anger and Renewal in Indian Country,” edited by Boyce Richardson http://tinyurl.com/ztc7v7j
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@ludovicgraham6234
August 12, 2025 at 2:35 am
She wears that tie like a girl. Half-windsor knot <huff> for shame!
@ThatFreakingGinger
August 12, 2025 at 2:35 am
Interesting as always, thanks Abby😊
@maleineperle1770
August 12, 2025 at 2:35 am
This hits me with that Hong-Kong isn't allowed to hold a memorium for Tiananmen anymore
Holding a vigil for it was a sign that it could happen again and succeed, and to keep the glory point alive. Of course China would jump on covid to make it stop.
@stinkygrunkie
August 12, 2025 at 2:35 am
I watch this every ANZAC day, my little ritual.
@carcossan
August 12, 2025 at 2:35 am
1:39 just like you said, for your country(nothing else).I think the reason don't understand this, you guys don't have national consciousness.
@SomeOne-sb4xf
August 12, 2025 at 2:35 am
It was interesting then
It is sad today
@heidisaglund3443
August 12, 2025 at 2:35 am
Mindblowing👌
@richardbuckharris189
August 12, 2025 at 2:35 am
War is a racket-General Smedley Butler
@marscoriad213
August 12, 2025 at 2:35 am
Canada observes Remembrance Day and the U.K. wears red poppies because of a Canada. Can we get your monarch off of our money yet?
@phantomblot6072
August 12, 2025 at 2:35 am
Like all patriotism, remembering wars is just brainwashing to keep the masses in line and keep them from questioning the elites.
@aro1284
August 12, 2025 at 2:35 am
I'm new here and I've been watching your videos for a few hours now. I just wanted to say thank you. I appreciate the time and effort you've put in to making these videos. They are paradoxically entertaining and enlightening as well as depressing and inspiring.
@shalinimaverick6844
August 12, 2025 at 2:35 am
I also used to look at wars as a glorious moment to die for. But the way the people in power project it has made me realize that it's just a propaganda to divert the attention of the people from internal problems to the fabricated situations of war. In the name of the blind nationalism, people die and inflict unimaginable sufferings on people of other nations. I liked the concept of making peace memorials as practiced by local communities in New Zealand. Loved the topic and content and also the presentation and crystal clear pronunciation 👍🙏😊
@thehighnoonsaloon7794
August 12, 2025 at 2:35 am
Free education has never been more fun
@tynq4
August 12, 2025 at 2:35 am
Holy shit, you could get away with anything in 2016
@MaximusRequiem
August 12, 2025 at 2:35 am
about the white poppy…
I understand why some people may think that Remembrance day, Armistive Day, etc celebrate war because its a day about war. However, thats not true. These days are meant to celebrate the individual soldiers. When you wear a white poppy, it isn't that people disagree with you, its that their response is, "well thankyou for stating the obvious". Whereing a red poppy is a sign of respect and some people might take offence to that. Now I don't think that it should be mandatory to where a red poppy, but intentionally whereing a white poppy almost seems like your looking for attention, saying "look at me with my brand new oppinion that war is bad". Its especially disrepectful when you can wear a white poppy at any time of the year, but you've chosen this one day that is important to alot of people to spread your message. Now don't get me wrong its not just the left wing that gets this wrong. Conservatives in the UK have tried to make the poppy a symbol of national pride, which is also wrong. You have the right to where your white poppy, but people also have a right to disagree with you wearing it on this specific day.
@Blatherskite-cat
August 12, 2025 at 2:35 am
In the USA participation in wars has been mostly owing to a draft and to social pressure to conform with courses of action that had already been decided upon by our rulers. Veterans of these escapades naturally want to valorize their participation in the actions later on.
@ViveLRoi
August 12, 2025 at 2:35 am
Nationalism in many European countries emerged as a tool of liberation against feudalism. But it morphed into the established ideology, and so became a tool of domination instead.
@mattheworegan5371
August 12, 2025 at 2:35 am
Brits: Wah Patriotism Freedom Muh Values
Irish people: Ok Anglo
@gnoctest
August 12, 2025 at 2:35 am
La Nation c'est de la merde. Voilà c'était ma thèse philosophique.
@anewhero1216
August 12, 2025 at 2:35 am
Small note: Canada has Remembrance Day on November 11th, not Veteran’s Day. We also wear poppies for the month.
@Syndie702
August 12, 2025 at 2:35 am
Tbh I'd honor the Tomb of the Unknown Antifascist. Bella ciao.
@NeverLoveNiila
August 12, 2025 at 2:35 am
We don't have any day or event to remember dead soldiers or their actions in Germany. We only have monuments lamenting the losses of the people lost to war. Overall war isn't remembered in a heroic but in a tragic way in Germany. There are so many countries with horrible genocides in their pasts who could benefit from processing their past in a similar way to what people did here and still we apparently haven't done enough as there are still nationalists an neo Nazis alive and well in my country, who apparently haven't got the memo yet.
@Wesker10000
August 12, 2025 at 2:35 am
So history is dependent on different nationalism. Why do i get the feeling the next link in the chain is as time goes on white nationalism are just inherently bad?
And that this 'oh lets look at churchill with honesty' will turn into 'If you like Churchill you're a racist."
@bkgames9319
August 12, 2025 at 2:35 am
I feel like you missed the mark a little here mate. We wear poppies on remembrance weekend to remember those who gave there lives to ultimately fight tyranny. Of course we weren’t perfect in ww2 but compared to the nazis we where a much better option.
@GeneralDestroyQc
August 12, 2025 at 2:35 am
I am know, I am late to the party but what do you (are anybody reading for that matter) of french canadian or quebecer nationnalism. I say that cause I am my self french canadian and have big mix feeling about it. I think it's true thene french canadian used to be discreminated against (even at some point our nick name was the with n** of north america). But in the modern canadian and internationnal systeme I feel like french canadian nationalism tend to be more about stealing right from muslim then fighting against the anglo-american bourgeoisie. Any opinion anybody ?
@jordanjudice4504
August 12, 2025 at 2:35 am
You look like Tucker Carlson in this video
@nothanks8351
August 12, 2025 at 2:35 am
olly we dont do veterans day in canada
@dilthepickle5346
August 12, 2025 at 2:35 am
We have Remembrance Day in Canada, not Veterans Day
@angel-gu8co
August 12, 2025 at 2:35 am
🤯
@tbretten
August 12, 2025 at 2:35 am
It is interesting to reflect on what your point means for a war losing nation.
The Germany I grew up in was a nation that emphasised the tragedy of war and uses memorials to warn about the dangers of unfettered nationalism. Which is, in a way, comforting and/or useful.
Losing the war and having been the perpetrators of unimaginable crimes against humanity has, at least in the past, put an extra hurdle in the way of nationalist movement's social acceptability.
To counter that, the right asks us why we should feel guilty for something we didn't commit and why, therefore, we should have to give up our sense of pride in our nation and its past. Or, to rephrase it in terms of your video: "why shouldn't we also be able to use our history to justify future acts of military aggression?"
Comments are closed.