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Wayne et. al.<BR>
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Wayne, you dodged my central question!? Do you believe in "unalienable Rights?" Even one "unalienable Right?"<BR>
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Ethical systems have many theoretical problems, as do many fields of human thought, but this does not stop us from using these imperfect systems! The concept of "unalienable Rights" is fraught with numerous theoretical problems but... Let me explain why I think we still can use this concept in a manner with enough precision and practical use to be of value, even if it does not meet the tests of ultimate philosophical consistency, empirical evidence, and freedom from ambiguity or vagueness.<BR>
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Of course I know you think this concept impossible to define well enough to give a good answer, but ... let's put it in specific terms that can be answered, perhaps. <BR>
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Is there any sort of treatment of another human being that you would condemn under all circumstances based on some sort of moral or ethical principle? For example, I reject the death penalty when there are other means of protecting society from a dangerous person. Keep in mind this does not mean I reject killing in self defense or in war in some cases. But on this one issue I believe, without exception, that the death penalty is wrong, when carried out under controlled circumstances that amount in my mind to cold blooded murder! I want it abolished by all governments, tribes, underground crime networks, etc. I have a long complex moral and political argument for why I think the death penalty should be abolished. This comes close to a practical definition of one "unalienable Right" I would advocate, the right to "life," even when revenge or justice appears to dictate otherwise. <BR>
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The idea of "first principles," and the difficulties involved, extends to nearly every field of human thought. Mathematics, physics, religion, ethics, law, etc., all seek fundamental principles or equations which can provide a foundation for a whole system of thought. However, this does not mean these fields of human thought do not continue to operate in people's lives, however incomplete or flawed they may be. We still use Newtonian Physics, though its first principles are flawed, and Relativity has replaced it as a more complete and perfect system. But to launch a satellite into orbit, Newtonian Physics does the job nicely.<BR>
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To compare this to Ethics, though our Ethical principles may be flawed and hard to define, <BR>
they are still of use to guide actions and provide a framework to debate moral choices. Of course Ethical principles may not offer the empirical precision when applied that we can derive from launching a satellite using flawed Newtonian Physics, so my analogy is not perfect.<BR>
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When we are dealing with Ethics, though, this impacts everyone's life in a direct manner that is not trivial, nor can someone say the problems are just academic, or are only for scientists or technologists, etc. Everyone uses some sort of ethical principles in their life, everyone is a moral philosopher, whether they admit it or like it. And the application of these "principles" impacts all of us as we impact each other based on our moral choices. <BR>
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Though the concept of "unalienable Rights" may be difficult or impossible to define in terms that all will agree upon, or even in terms that always make good logical and empirical sense, I still think the concept of value, like Newtonian Physics is of value, though any physicist will tell you how flawed it is! And furthermore, that "unalienable Rights" can be put to good use to try to establish firm guidelines to create a better world. Of course this cuts both ways, because the concept can be used to also support extreme cruelty and killing. Those we are convinced with no shred of doubt they have the ultimate moral laws of the universe are sometimes inclined to use brutal methods of forcing these values upon others.<BR>
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I still like the idea, however flawed, that we all have an "unalienable Right" to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."<BR>
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Ted Moffett<BR>
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