[MD] Values

[MarshaV]

Greetings Ham,

By rational, do you mean 'whatever you think'?   Because it seems to 
me that humans are comprised of very different patterns of thought.

Marsha


At 07:29 PM 9/28/2007, you wrote:

>HI Marsha --
>
>
>
> > Well, there is the obvious problem, the sadomasochist.  Both the
> > Golden Rule and Kant's Categorical Imperative seem to make their
> > point-of-view permissible.  How would you define being rational?
>
>You'll note that I said "generally it can be described in terms of the
>Golden Rule."  You have mischievously come up with an exception to this
>rule, but I believe I could make a good case for the irrationality of
>sadomasochism.  In fact, I can think of no deviant behavior, from child
>molestation to shop lifting and xenophobia, that could not be understood as
>irrational by the perpetrator.  I'm not saying that he would admit it, nor
>am I denying that "genetic predisposition" or environmental influences may
>be a factor here, but it is inconceivable to me that a reasonably
>intelligent person could doubt the rationality of anti-social behavior.
>
>With the possible exception of psychotic individuals, the vast majority of
>humans in a free society innately recognize the value of life and respect
>the right of others to behave as they please, provided this behavior does
>not impose on their freedom.  Indeed, our laws are written from this
>rational point of view.  So that the social deviant need only be informed of
>these laws (which are often read to him after the initial offense) in order
>to be aware of his unreasonable behavior.  Even if one cannot comprehend
>that what harms his fellows harms himself, there is little excuse for
>irrational conduct in a society founded on rational principles.
>
>--Ham
>
>
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