Philosophy
Episode 4. In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson penned these immemorial words: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.?That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just power from the consent of the governed."
What you may or may not know is that Jefferson's inspiration for these ideas came from the British philosopher John Locke (one of his three intellectual heroes, along with Francis Bacon and Isaac Newton).
Locke argued that individuals have certain rights so fundamental, like property, that no government can ever take them away. This is why libertarians tend to like Locke. In fact, however, as much as we tend to intuitively like this idea, and use it to justify free license in our conduct, the unalienability of these rights presents some rather paradoxical consequences as they relate to what individuals are entitled to do, even with respect to their own rights. But what happens to these natural rights when we consent to enter civil society and be bound by a system of laws?
If we all have unalienable rights, like life, liberty and property, that no government may ever take away, how can a government justly enforce tax or conscription laws? In other words, how can fundamental and unalienable individual rights be reconciled with the enforcement of majority rule in a democracy? Stick around and find out :)
Episode list: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.
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- Does The Social Contract Have A Dotted Line?
Today is the 706th anniversary of the death of William Wallace, a Scottish knight who led the revolt against Edward I who claimed rule over Scotland. When tried for treason, his defense was that he could not be guilty of treason against a government to...
- A Plea For Charity In Understanding African-american Homophobia
A central tenet in critical thinking is the principle of charity, one should always formulate a view in the strongest possible fashion. I'm trying my best to be charitable with the anti-gay marriage arguments of the African-American lawmakers in Maryland...
- Meaning And Memorial
I tend not to do too much on local politics, but this one is worth broader discussion. Frederick, Maryland was the home of the fifth Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (the first Roman Catholic to hold that position), a man who was...
- Sins Of The Right: The Moral Poverty Of Libertarianism
Conservative talk about ethics tends to fall into one of two camps: Divine Command Theory which asserts God's Will as the source of moral rightness and wrongness and Libertariansim which sets maximizing personal freedom as the single goal of an ethical...
- Laws And Punishment
Indeed for a society to function properly there must be repercussions for every action, be it for better or for worse. The function of rules and codes of conduct allow society to function properly as it enforces the justice dictated by the rulers. While...
Philosophy
Justice - What Is the Right Thing To Do?
Episode 4. In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson penned these immemorial words: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.?That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just power from the consent of the governed."What you may or may not know is that Jefferson's inspiration for these ideas came from the British philosopher John Locke (one of his three intellectual heroes, along with Francis Bacon and Isaac Newton).
Locke argued that individuals have certain rights so fundamental, like property, that no government can ever take them away. This is why libertarians tend to like Locke. In fact, however, as much as we tend to intuitively like this idea, and use it to justify free license in our conduct, the unalienability of these rights presents some rather paradoxical consequences as they relate to what individuals are entitled to do, even with respect to their own rights. But what happens to these natural rights when we consent to enter civil society and be bound by a system of laws?
If we all have unalienable rights, like life, liberty and property, that no government may ever take away, how can a government justly enforce tax or conscription laws? In other words, how can fundamental and unalienable individual rights be reconciled with the enforcement of majority rule in a democracy? Stick around and find out :)
Episode list: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.
.
- Does The Social Contract Have A Dotted Line?
Today is the 706th anniversary of the death of William Wallace, a Scottish knight who led the revolt against Edward I who claimed rule over Scotland. When tried for treason, his defense was that he could not be guilty of treason against a government to...
- A Plea For Charity In Understanding African-american Homophobia
A central tenet in critical thinking is the principle of charity, one should always formulate a view in the strongest possible fashion. I'm trying my best to be charitable with the anti-gay marriage arguments of the African-American lawmakers in Maryland...
- Meaning And Memorial
I tend not to do too much on local politics, but this one is worth broader discussion. Frederick, Maryland was the home of the fifth Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (the first Roman Catholic to hold that position), a man who was...
- Sins Of The Right: The Moral Poverty Of Libertarianism
Conservative talk about ethics tends to fall into one of two camps: Divine Command Theory which asserts God's Will as the source of moral rightness and wrongness and Libertariansim which sets maximizing personal freedom as the single goal of an ethical...
- Laws And Punishment
Indeed for a society to function properly there must be repercussions for every action, be it for better or for worse. The function of rules and codes of conduct allow society to function properly as it enforces the justice dictated by the rulers. While...