I felt about the Will piece exactly as you did.
He's wrong about moral relativism, imo. One can be a relativist and flat-out believe our civilization and culture are better than theirs. September 11 simply changed the drive to deny that we believe that, imo.
Just because it resides in me, as a value, doesn't mean I don't 'know' it's true. Just because they (a lower percentage of them, I'd wager, especially of women) 'know' their culture is superior doesn't mean I care. It just gives me information that may be either interesting, helpful, or, usually, both.
To all intents and purposes, the doctrine of moral relativism is a philosophical exercise on a par with the belief in free will, imo. It's interesting, especially when the lightbulb first goes on when one is a sophomore, Wow, the revelation!; but its only relevant at the margins. We're still on our side as they are on theirs, and thus shall it always be. Vested interest uber alles, c'est la vie. |
