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Pastimes : THE SLIGHTLY MODERATED BOXING RING -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Lane3 who wrote (4184)	3/22/2002 12:17:01 PM
From: Neocon	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 21057

There is actually a term for the kind of argument one makes that something is better to believe. It is a "moral argument". It is a guide to judgement. The precept about proving guilt "beyond a reasonable doubt" is based on a moral argument, that it is better to let a guilty man go free than to convict the innocent, within an unavoidable residuum of error. A corollary, when the moral argument is not articulated formally, is to refer to belief as "satisfying one's sense of the fitness of things". That is a fairly neutral formulation, and will suffice as an example. As for a better phrase than "blind acceptance", what is wanted is trust in the lore of one's culture, as handed down by figures of authority. I doubt that it is ever wholly unquestioning, but it may be left substantially undisturbed. This is, by the way, a general phenomenon. For example, most of the radical leaders in the 60s were "red diaper babies", or at least "pink diaper babies", with parents involved in various shades of Leftist activities. They just imbibe different messages in their little subculture. Yes, some people are superstitious, and that might elide into religious belief. If that is all you are saying, I withdraw the objection. Thou shalt avoid gratuitous slams, and take some care to treat with respect, or at least some forbearance, what is sacred to others. On the gremlin borg: LOL! See, I have a sense of humor, and you have an idea of what I might find acceptable, too. If this comes too late, have a good lunch......