From: Lee Corbin (lcorbin@tsoft.com)
Date: Thu Nov 21 2002 - 21:02:36 MST
Brett writes
> Jef Allbright wrote:
> > The search for a rational basis for morals is just
> > one more example of where a frustrating conundrum
> > at one level of context is a non-issue at a higher
> > level. Moral questions are always set in the context
> > of human values. At a higher level, the universe
> > simply doesn't care. As long as a moral argument
> > meets the needs of the current values of the society
> > judging it, it is considered correct. It doesn't
> > even need to be logically consistent. Later, as
> > society's values change, the old moral "absolutes"
> > will be replaced with newer moral "absolutes".
>
> True, but the world contains more than one society
> at present. Ultimately does might make right and
> is it then for the mighty to label all opponents
> as "evil"?
Well, they can if they like, but it doesn't change
the truth. Now what is the truth? The only truth
that I know about here is what certain people,
including most importantly myself, do or do not
approve of.
"Might makes right" is yet another sad consequence of
the urge to believe in "rights" in the abstract, and
the careless IMO use of that word in sentences. The
only thing that actually exists is what you or I
approve of. Nothing else. There are no moral
absolutes.
> Clearly this is not just a hypothetic thing.
> It resonates today, as I suspect it always
> has in real world struggles and real world
> politics.
Yes, and there has always been a tendency for
the winners to write the history and to pass
judgment. The Nuremberg trials basically told
the world what the Anglosphere was going to
punish and what it wouldn't punish (the Soviets
being along for the ride to get even with
certain people).
Just because most history books are printed in
English today does not mean that you have to
agree with them. One ought to continue to
approve/disapprove without too much regard
for what anyone else thinks. If God himself
as well as the rest of the people in the world
started to approve of the torture of small
kittens, I would still not approve.
Lee
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