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Politics : Sharks in the Septic Tank -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: epicure who wrote (4300)	2/1/2001 6:10:15 PM
From: Solon	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 82486

First rights are metaphysical, imo. They aren't material. They are ideas I agree with that. However, I believe that the universe is grounded in certain laws than give it structure and coherence. I also believe that ideas derive their structure and coherence in the manner and to the degree in which they reflect or recognize these universal laws, constants, and truths. Even if these truths have ultimate breakdown, decay, or impermanence--there is a place where pragmatism and idealism have to meet. I believe that (in general terms) rationality is a part of the matrix of the universe. Even though ideas may not be material, still--there are few who would claim they are not existent. Existence is existence. Ideas exist. I believe they have a logical existence, and that they exist in a universe that (through some mechanism, or perhaps simply through the ordering ability of consciousness--which is in itself part of the universe) has a degree of order sufficient to justify our reliance upon rationality as a basis for understanding truth (albeit at an imperfect level), but at least to a level that metaphysical ideas can be argued, defended, and held or rejected--on the basis that mathematics, logic and other metaphysical rooms in the realm of ideas, are REAL. It can even be argued whether or not ideas have a far more distinct reality than does anything else. I know that my entire reality depends from ideas, and even those things which I believe exist, I have no evidence for, as they only exist in the tapestry of my ideas. I believe that some ideas have more coherence to the way the universe actually is than do others. In that sense, I believe that there are metaphysical beliefs that more accurately reflect the degree to which the whole field of ideas cohere to the field of the universe. Ideas have a seemingly infinite reach, from the primitive conceptions of ancient peoples whose ideas were mostly inaccurate, to modern society where ideas are mostly inaccurate, to that point beyond where they are less inaccurate. Society structures itself on the basis of ideas. It argues, debates, discusses, and struggles in the metaphysical realm of ideas--and then it writes a declaration of Independence, or a Constitution, or it votes for more schools...or something. But action is subordinate to ideas. Ideas justify beliefs in the metaphysical realm--by metaphysical laws, of reason and logic. These ideas are then implemented in the action realm of everyday life. What is a right is first decided in the mind, and then justified by force. When the action taking place coheres merely to a false, or to an insufficient counterpart in the metaphysical realm of ideas, I simply point out that they don't match. All of this because I believe that ideas are the mainspring of intelligent action. I believe that metaphysical ideas such as "what is a right" begin and end in that realm. When an action matches a false or inadequate idea (such as "eating this person's heart will make me live forever"), I have no problem saying that the action is inadequate or false. This is where my morality stems from. Otherwise it would be power in a random environment, versus sense in an ordered one. So when society says that embryos have rights (which society has the power to do), I can still say "FALSE", which I will. Eventually the truth will out because the universe will not forever tolerate a lie. And when society fails to recognize the difference between ideas, and their congruency to reality (however imperfectly understood), and ideas that don't comport (such as giving children the right to bear arms), then society will endure consequences that will assist it in reconsidering the metaphysical beliefs that inform her everyday actions.