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


To: The Philosopher who wrote (18405)7/16/2001 9:32:58 PM
From: Dayuhan  Read Replies (2) | Respond to of 82486
 
Those who believe that rule sare revealed by God have decided for themselves what rules are to govern their conduct just as you have.

The core of the issue, I suppose.

Don't you think that the process by which a decision is reached has something to do with the usefulness of the decision?

We all decide what we are going to believe. Some base their decisions on observation, study, comparison, discussion, thought. Others base their decisions on "I hear and obey".

Look through human history, and see which type of decision-making has led societies to flourish, and which has led to stagnation and collapse.

Neither way is "right" or "wrong". We cannot "prove" that any decision arrived at by either process is "true". The question: which type of decision-making is likely to lead us to the type of society that most of us want?

Please don't start in on the "ah, but what do most of us want" routine. It's pretty clear. Security, plenty to eat, good shelter, leisure time, as much freedom as is practically possible, etc., etc.

Bear in mind that at the end of all this talk is a practical question: do we want to decide what rules we will live by, or do we want a few who claim to be in contact with God, and are accountable to none, to do it for us?