I am afraid we are getting nowhere fast. Let me try a different tack. I assert that New York is one of the most important cities in the world. In saying that, I do not mean that New York is "good", or "important to me", I mean that so much of the world's business, financial, cultural, literary, and otherwise, is transacted there, that were it to suddenly be destroyed, it would have a profound effect on the international system. In other words, although there is a context in which to view its importance, its importance is quite objective. On the other hand, were Peoria, Illinois to suddenly be destroyed, tragedy though it may be, it would not have a profound effect on the international system, and therefore it is not a very important city.
Similarly, humanity has profoundly altered the face of the earth, for good or ill, more than any other species, and therefore is more important than any other species on the planet. Again, there is a context, fine, but the relative importance is independent of a subjective judgment, but dependent upon impact on the planet.
The United States is now, and for the forseeable future, the most important nation on the earth. Again, that is irrespective of a judgment as to its goodness, and has to do with its centrality to the course of history at this juncture.
Judgments about importance might depend upon context in some sense, but they are not subjective. |
