Discussion or Determination or Harangue

Abortion, euthanasia, genetic engineering, Just War theory and other such hot topics.

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RWStanding
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Joined: Sun Oct 09, 2016 12:23 pm

Discussion or Determination or Harangue

Post by RWStanding »

Discussion or Determination or Harangue
To discuss anything is not simply a way by which ethical-political decisions may be agreed. It is an ethic in its own right. A fundamental statement of what kind of society the participants share in. And in fact an essential characteristic of Altruist society.
Authoritarian society may perhaps discuss its rules, but that would imply they are not clear in the first place. An pragmatic ethical decision is obtained by consulting the source of authority, and the 'lawyers' or scholars are those who are appealed to, as able to cite authority. Religions, and some philosophies, are in part at least of this nature, and some more than others.
Anarchistic society has minimal authority apart from that of the individual. Each person as a judge in his own rights. The need for discussion is minimal, beyond the need for peaceful autonomy.
When an ethical decision is made by altruist society, it may then preferably be enshrined in social convention, or as a statutory law. Where law is created, altruist society is thereby authoritarian to a degree. But only to the point at which continuing debate or discussion requires a revised law.
As is so often in the world as it exists, meetings to resolve issues must be held between very diverse parties. International conferences in particular. Where these national parties are in part altruist democracies, and in part authoritarian pseudo-democracies, or worse, there is a fundamental clash. Any agreement involving authoritarian states, is more likely to be the strong imposing on the weak, or an unsatisfactory compromise between equal powers.
There is an interesting type of religion-philosophy that is basically authoritarian, but with a generally altruistic ethic. If authority demands that all issues be discussed it ceases to be authoritarian.
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