[MD] Capital Punishment

[Platt Holden]

Hi Ham, Arlo:

Arlo asked Ham a very legitmate question:

> > How can something be immoral by any standard if all standards
> > are contextually derived? Seems like you, too, believe there are
> > some "absolutes", such as "freedom for all men". So, does that
> > mean slavery is always immoral? Or am I misunderstanding,
> > can slavery be moral?

Ham answered:
 
> Rather than getting trapped in the quagmire of absolutes again, I'd put
> it
> this way: If freedom for all men is a moral imperative, as I believe it
> is,
> then slavery cannot be moral.

Excuse me Ham, but I think you should explain the difference between a
"moral imperative" and a moral absolute. Also I wonder why thnk your belief
that "slavery cannot be moral" isn't an absolute? 

If in your philosophy morality is absolute on one hand and relative on the
other it seems to me your philosphy cannot claim to be completely rational.
Of course, this won't necessarily disqualify it. There are plenty of
irrational philosophies out there like those of postmodernists and "New
Agers." But, I always assumed that in creating your philosophy you followed
the canons of logic.

Perhaps my own logic is weak or I have misconstrued your words. If so, I'm
eager to be corrected. My questions boil down to: "In your philosophy, do
absolutes (other than Essence) play any part? If not, how can you claim the
existence of a moral imperative?

Best,
Platt





-------------------------------------------------
This mail sent through IMP: http://horde.org/imp/