You seem confused about several things here. Unlike Biblical exegesis, in this conversation we are trying to elaborate and discuss possibilities for the cultural features of a world that was only loosely sketched out. You realize this is a fictional world we’re discussing, not a statement of morality, or a manifesto that would require “backpedaling”?
The point of introducing socially acceptable non-consensual sex was to demonstrate huge cultural differences. Neither EY nor anyone else is claiming this would be a good thing, or “benign” : it’s just a demonstration of cultural change over time.
Someone in the future, unless he was a historian, might not be familiar with history books discussing 20th century life. He might think lots of rape in the 20th century would be good (incorrectly) because non-consensual sex is a good thing by his cultural standards. He’d be wrong, but he wouldn’t realize it.
Your question is analogous to “I don’t see why someone now couldn’t see that slavery was a good thing back in the 17th century, given that he’d have historical knowledge of what that society was like.” Well, yes, slavery was seen (by some people) as a good thing back then, but it’s not now. In the story, non-consensual sex is seen (incorrectly) as a good thing in the future, so people in the future interpret the past through those biases.
You seem confused about several things here. Unlike Biblical exegesis, in this conversation we are trying to elaborate and discuss possibilities for the cultural features of a world that was only loosely sketched out. You realize this is a fictional world we’re discussing, not a statement of morality, or a manifesto that would require “backpedaling”?
The point of introducing socially acceptable non-consensual sex was to demonstrate huge cultural differences. Neither EY nor anyone else is claiming this would be a good thing, or “benign” : it’s just a demonstration of cultural change over time.
Someone in the future, unless he was a historian, might not be familiar with history books discussing 20th century life. He might think lots of rape in the 20th century would be good (incorrectly) because non-consensual sex is a good thing by his cultural standards. He’d be wrong, but he wouldn’t realize it.
Your question is analogous to “I don’t see why someone now couldn’t see that slavery was a good thing back in the 17th century, given that he’d have historical knowledge of what that society was like.” Well, yes, slavery was seen (by some people) as a good thing back then, but it’s not now. In the story, non-consensual sex is seen (incorrectly) as a good thing in the future, so people in the future interpret the past through those biases.