Was Fogel's work on slavery criticized?
Yes, my work on slavery, particularly 'Time on the Cross,' faced significant criticism. Many scholars argued that our quantitative methods downplayed the brutality, suffering, and inherent dehumanization of slavery, focusing instead on its economic aspects. Critics contended that the pursuit of statistical efficiency obscured the moral and social catastrophe of the institution. While we stood by our data and methodology, we acknowledged the complexity of the human experience.
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