New Imperialism-The Hidden Cost Of Scientific Progress

The Hidden Cost of Scientific Progress
It is a known fact that the second half of the 19th century was a period of the “New Imperialism”. This “New Imperialism” was not a new direction of the European or perhaps world’s economic politic, but the “same old colonialism” of lands, such as Africa, India and Asia, which was driven further due to the different requirements and goals this time. Economic and scientific progress brought new aspects of concentration for the European society. During the previous invasions of European powers on the territories of Africa the trade of slaves was the main reason, when now their interests were concentrated on the obtainment of natural resources and raw materials, such as metals, diamonds, rubber, cotton, palm

Contributing to the development of science, Charles Darwin argued in his work that “man is descended from some less highly organized form”, proceeding his explanation with following: “there can hardly be a doubt that we [modern society of his time] are descended from barbarians. The astonishment which I felt on first seeing a party of Fuegians on a wild and broken shore will never be forgotten by me, for the reflection at once rushed into my mind – such were our ancestors. (…) They possessed hardly any arts, and like wild animals lived on what they could catch; they had no government, and were merciless to everyone not of their own tribe” (Lualdi, p.182-184). At that particular period of time, when European society was already influenced by the ideas of positivism – the theory which stated that science and “careful study of facts would generate accurate, or “positive”, laws of society and that these laws could, in turn, help in the formation of policies and legislation”, Darwin’s argument only “fueled” the Western European’s notion of the superiority of their race and culture, affecting their worldview and contributing to the belief that people of other “colors” then their own can be viewed as less civilized and literally “less human”, being far behind European’s level of progress and intelligence (Hunt,

Richard Kipling in his “The White Man’s Burden” justifies the idea of expending the superior European civilization and progress along with emphasizing that it is almost an obligation for the people of white race to contribute to the development of people of other “colors” (Lualdi, p. 220). In his poem Kipling points out on the “cost” and consequences of the “fulfillment” of this “duty”, suggesting or “warning [to] all intelligent Americans to avoid imperialism as they would avoid a plague” because of the horrible consequences it may and will bring about (Lualdi, p.