Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site utastro.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxn!ihnp4!qantel!dual!lll-crg!seismo!ut-sally!utastro!padraig From: padraig@utastro.UUCP (Padraig Houlahan) Newsgroups: net.religion.christian Subject: desirability of freedom. Message-ID: <404@utastro.UUCP> Date: Mon, 22-Jul-85 21:21:53 EDT Article-I.D.: utastro.404 Posted: Mon Jul 22 21:21:53 1985 Date-Received: Sat, 27-Jul-85 04:10:02 EDT Distribution: net Organization: U. Texas, Astronomy, Austin, TX Lines: 38 >>This is not just an assertion on Rich's part. There is empirical evidence >>demonstrating the desirability of freedom, and the desirability of >>increasing one's chances of survival. Look at any region of the world where >>refugees are; They are fleeing totalitarian societies, famine, and >>war. This fact is all that is needed to justify Rich's point of view, and >>consequently show that freedom etc is of some value. > >But this only presents a problem if you accept the position that all lives >are of equal value, and perhaps many others as well. This simply is not >universally accepted. It isn't even clear that a majority truly accept it. > >Charley Wingate umcp-cs!mangoe Who said it presents a problem? I didn't. Who mentioned anything about equality of lives? I didn't. Who said anything about it being universally accepted? I didn't. The point was to demonstrate that freedom etc. is of some value. Recall that the paragraph was in response to: > Perhaps there is a presupposition lurking somewhere in your rationale... > bolstered, presumably, by wishful thinking that "freedom" (undefined) and > "benefit" (also undefined - both probably subjective) are of some value. > Perhaps you are right - but why should anyone believe you are? You > can't give a reason, so you end up with proof by assertion. > > Paul DuBois {allegra,ihnp4,seismo}!uwvax!uwmacc!dubois --+-- It would be appreciated if you would stick to the topic and stop trying to introduce digressions when no appropriate response is forthcoming. Padraig Houlahan.