From: Robin Hanson (hanson@econ.berkeley.edu)
Date: Tue Dec 22 1998 - 20:22:16 MST
Dick Gray writes:
>>Having the ends justify the means is "principled." Maybe its not a
>>principle you like, but that's another matter.
>
>If you think it's principled, then proceed to defend the principle.
I didn't claim it was a defended principle (whatever that means),
just a principle.
>>If my liberty was reduced, that should show itself in lots of simple
>>familiar consequences. I wouldn't get to eat the things I like,
>>live in the places I like, etc. I could be displeased by that outcome
>>even without adding on an extra "and my liberty was reduced."
>
>Who said it was offered *in addition* to the simple consequences? It's just
>a summary, in lieu of enumerating all the detailed losses.
In that case, I prefer to stick to other less emotionally-laden
summaries of consequences.
>Tell me, does _The Prince_ really inspire your sense of justice?
No. But it doesn't offend it either.
>>>>I accept these features because simple consequential analysis seems
>>>>our best chance for creating broad intellectual consensus on policy
>>>>questions.
>
>>>If by an appeal to their material advantage we can persuade the less
>>>principled to support freedom, that's better than nothing, I suppose.
>
>>There are lots more simple consequences than "material advantage."
>>There's having friends, enjoying conversations, liking music,
>>traveling to interesting places, etc.
>
>What do these things have to do with market analysis or with Coase's
>theorem?
I was objecting to your appearing to reduce "consequential analysis"
to just consideration of "material advantage."
>>>IOW you prefer the _status quo_ of opportunistic power struggles to a
>>>principled discussion of the ethical foundations of a good society.
>
>>Again, power struggles *are* "principled." And there is no real
>>alternative to participating in them -- "ethical" discussions are just
>>one of many ways to play the power struggle game.
>
>You're equivocating on the word "power" - a common practice among people
>who - to their credit - don't want to admit to themselves the brute nature
>of what they advocate. Obviously I was addressing the power of compulsion,
>not "personal power" or "economic power". What sort of "principle" can
>justify social order by armed force? "Might makes right"?
I'm not sure what you mean by "justify," and I don't have time now to
explore that with you.
I'll be on travel for the next two weeks.
Happy Holidays everyone!
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