Re: virus: Consciousness

Robin Faichney (r.j.faichney@stir.ac.uk)
Wed, 18 Jun 1997 15:57:00 +0100


Eric Boyd wrote:
>Robin Faichney wrote:
>
>> I don't know. Or rather: I don't believe the question means
>> anything. Unless it means, are the overall effects of that action
>> desirable or undesirable? But if it does mean that, why can't
>> we discuss in these terms, rather than asking is it right or
>> wrong, which implies some objective quality?
>
>Obviously, I wasn't very clear last time. I agree with your position
on
>good and bad as being "undesirable" words in that they imply essences.
>I was just pointing out that desirable and undesirable do not have to
be
>limited to just the effects on _other_people_, as you orginally said.

Well maybe *I* wasn't very clear, because whatever I did say,
I certainly didn't mean to say that. (I just checked back, and
I don't think I *did* say anything like that, but it's probably not
worth arguing about.)

>> PS Nate said offline that with kids he used "because I say so"
>> rather than "because it's bad". I tend to agree that his way is
>> probably better, and it's certainly more honest. (Hope Nate
>> doesn't mind me going public with this!)
>
>I don't know... seems to me that saying "because I say so" implies that
>you beleive in "might makes right", i.e. that you can impose your will
>on others just because you hold a position of authority over them.

That's what authority means, isn't it? If you believe in authority,
then you believe might makes right. Isn't it dishonest to pretend
you can't or won't impose your will on children?

Robin