[MD] Biological Quality & Social Conservatism

[David M]

Hi Ian

I kinda think we need to try a different angle:
that we need to try to make everyone as wise as
possible so that more or us move in a positive
direction, so that makes education key.

David M

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "ian glendinning" <psybertron at gmail.com>
To: <moq_discuss at moqtalk.org>
Sent: Tuesday, August 14, 2007 5:13 PM
Subject: Re: [MD] Biological Quality & Social Conservatism


> Arlo, Platt, I realize I'm diving way back into this thread, and not
> followed the whole trail. Just responding to this bit ...
>
>> [Arlo previously]
>> >From whose intellect do we derive the right of "free speech", a right 
>> >that I
>> take it you think the majority should not be able to vote away?
>>
>> [Platt]
>> Good question. What's the answer?
>>
>> [Arlo]
>> Well, I suppose the "literal" answer would be, in this case, a "consensus 
>> of
>> learned individuals appealing to philosophy and reason". Perhaps adding 
>> "with
>> the power to enforce their decision on anyone who would dissent" 
>> (assuming
>> there were colonists who may have not liked the whole "free speech" 
>> thing).
>>
>
> But, I find this keeps coming up in many areas of discussion. It's
> hard to avoid some concept of "elitism" in designing ideal governance
> ... some group whose qualities (intellectual or otherwise) count for
> more votive power than the members of the constituency as a whole.
>
> It's a minefield of "who says" with a history paved with disasterous
> experience, so it's very hard to talk about without knee-jerk
> reactions to the implied arrogance of power. Equally there is evidence
> in well-formed institutions that the principle is corrcect ....
> whatever the process of appointment of the judiciary in a modern
> democracy .... there is a sense in that once appointed their "wise"
> judgments carry authority and are enforced socially.
>
> Basically, even in the most free and egalitarian democratic
> arrangements, the "wise' need to be given more "clout". (A point not
> lost on Plato, as you suggest Arlo.) .... just shifts the problem to
> how / who decides who's wise, and where the checks and balances lie.
> Discuss.
>
> Ian
> Moq_Discuss mailing list
> Listinfo, Unsubscribing etc.
> http://lists.moqtalk.org/listinfo.cgi/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org
> Archives:
> http://lists.moqtalk.org/pipermail/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org/
> http://moq.org.uk/pipermail/moq_discuss_archive/
>