[MD] Flying Spagetti Monsters

[pholden at davtv.com]

Quoting Arlo Bensinger <ajb102 at psu.edu>:

> [Platt to Ben]
> There are no moral standards I have a duty to consider other than my own. 
> Or so it would seem from Arlo's premise.
> 
> [Arlo]
> And what is good, and what is not good, I suppose we DO need to ask others 
> to tell us these things. Or so it would seem from Platt's premise. The 
> question is, who should we ask? The "national consciousness"? If so, does 
> that mean Bush IS acting immorally if the majority are against the war? Or 
> to the state's decree? If so, does that mean anything the state does is 
> "moral", just because it is "ours"? Was slavery "moral" before 1865? If we 
> have a "duty to the state", does that mean opposing slavery was "wrong"?

"Who should we ask?" This is exactly the question I've been trying to get agreement
on every since this site began years ago. About the only answer I've gotten to
date other than Arlo's "every man for himself" is the Golden Rule or some 
version thereof. Some have appealed to the MOQ, but even Pirsig has denied 
that it should be taken as the final word, just a general suggestion as to a 
path to follow. Further, there's lots of disagreement about what the MOQ means
with readers tending (naturally) to select those parts that support their
previously held beliefs. 

So to all following this thread, "Who should we ask about what's right and
wrong?" Perhaps we should begin a new thread if anybody wants to take a stab
at answering.

Platt


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