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<DIV><FONT size=2>It may be wise to remember in a discussion of values the
following paraphrase of a quotation from English Philosopher John
Locke:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>"When comparing two ideas, it is necessary to have a clear and
distinct idea of each."</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Or its modern statement:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>"When comparing two statements or theories, the clearer, less
vague and ambiguous statement(s) of and definitions used in each, the better the
chance of meaningfully determining the truth, or in the case of values, the
correct application, or least discovering the roots of agreement or
disagreement."</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Somehow the author of the list which we have been presented
seems not to have appreciated the above recommendations, nor has the author
appreciated the wisdom of Aristotle about the virtues and the mean -- avoiding
excesses in either direction. The author, if she/he really had an open
mind about the nature of value statements, might try taking Ethics 101.
The author might then discover that determining the truth, if there is
such, or correct application, if there is such, of value statements is
quite a bit more complicated than giving a list of platitudes.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Values are not like gravity or electricity where erroneous
statements are confronted by hard reality.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>w.</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT: 10pt arial; BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=jeffh@moscow.com href="mailto:jeffh@moscow.com">Jeff Harkins</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=vision2020@moscow.com
href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">vision2020@moscow.com</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Sunday, January 02, 2011 11:14
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [Vision2020] Love</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV> The comments on the "love" value have been interesting
and <BR>thought-provoking.<BR><BR>Many of you seem disappointed that the
values lack "precision" and/or <BR>"perfection" in the definitions - or
perhaps fail to match your <BR>"feelings" about love (or any of the other
values).<BR><BR>Couple of thoughts -<BR><BR>I too have felt the definitions
have not been as robust as I would like, <BR>but upon reflection, I think the
definitions are intended to encourage <BR>conversation about the values and to
gain perspectives about how our <BR>beliefs might legitimately differ from
others.<BR><BR>As well, it seems to me that the whole point of thinking about
these <BR>"values" is to identify our own feelings about who we are and to be
able <BR>to appreciate how we might alter our own self image. Case in
point, if <BR>you viewed the TV spot for love (entitled Everlasting Love), the
message <BR>communicates (at least to me) a depth of love that transcends age,
<BR>gender, experience, wisdom, status - e.g., the "love between father and
<BR>daughter" - For me, I have a very different feeling about love and
my <BR>relationship with my soul mate.<BR><BR>The quotations and lyrics you
all have cited about love have been <BR>terrific - very diverse.<BR><BR>Here
is one that has always been "interesting" to me:<BR><BR>"It is not virtue,
wisdom, valour, wit, strength, comeliness of shape or <BR>amplest merit, that
woman's love can win, or long inherit; but what it <BR>is, hard is to say,
harder to hit" [John Milton - Samson Agonistes]<BR><BR>That said,<BR><BR>Isn't
love a feeling?<BR>Isn't love warm?<BR>Isn't love personal?<BR>Isn't love a
"bonding"?<BR><BR>=======================================================<BR> List
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