[MD] A Place for the Principled Person

[Case]

[David]
I'm not saying that we should all go and physically kill ourselves to put an
end to all biological behavior.  I'm referring to the biological behavior
that stands in stark contrast to society.  Murder, assault, rape are a few
that come to mind.. there are many others.  Pirsig suggests the puritan
model should be dusted off and each value judged impartially for what it is.
I think this is a good idea.  

"Drinking, dancing, sex, playing the fiddle, gambling, idleness: these are
biological pleasures. Early puritan models were largely a suppression of
biological quality."

"When a society undermines intellectual freedom for its own purposes it is
absolutely morally bad, but when it represses biological freedom for its own
purposes it is absolutely morally good.  These moral bads and goods are not
just 'customs'.  They are as real as rocks and trees"  

-Lila pg 354.

[Case]
Murder, assault, and rape are acts of violence not necessarily "biological"
behaviors. These activities are regulated in all societies with varying
degrees of success.

As for biologically pleasurable activities these can be viewed as inciting
the emotions. Emotions tend to lead to individual activities that may indeed
be harmful to society. Clearly these issues get confused. Here in the South
we say that Baptists condemn sex because it might lead to dancing.

It is important to also be mindful that we are the first generations of
humans on this planet who have been free of most of the biological
consequences that our ancestors faced. Disease and unwanted pregnancy were
common consequences of unrestricted sex in the not so distance past. In fact
the 20 odd years between the development of the birth control pill and the
outbreak of aids and herpes were like an oasis in the dessert of desire. One
of the reasons moderns are able to discuss things like equal rights for
women and explore a variety of social and sexual relationships is because we
are the first to have the luxury.