Hi Platt,
Thanks to you and Bo for your kind words; it is something I've been mulling
on for a while. Not that my thoughts are anywhere near complete (I've yet to
get hold of the book Lawry recommended, for example) but I had got to the
stage where I wanted a bit of dialogue.
As to your specific question, my general view is that talk of human rights
is 'nonsense on stilts' - but that the 'negative freedoms' (eg freedom from
torture) are tremendously useful nonsense; hence I'm a paid up member of
Amnesty International. I dislike the more positive freedoms you mention
(right to a job), but that's because I'm broadly libertarian in my political
attitudes. (doubtless those words will warm the cockles of your heart!!).
I don't agree that "human rights" is equivalent to the intellectual level of
the MoQ, but as I said in the original post, "let's call it the doctrine of
human rights, although in a separate post, if I have time, I'd like to
challenge that". I think that there are richer formulations, incorporating
the MoQ, that could be - and indeed, need to be - developed to support those
high quality moral outcomes (of respect for the person, banning of torture
etc). Hopefully sometime soon I'll be able to offer some more substantive
thoughts.
My worry at the moment is that despite its high quality constitution and
social-level culture, the 'giant' in the US - that is, the
military-industrial-governmental complex - has set out on a path that is in
its own interests, and not in the interests of actual US citizens (and
indeed people elsewhere). That's where we need to apply some very fine
judgements to what is proposed, with regard to Iraq for example (or the
International Criminal Court). Surprisingly, although Tony Blair is in some
ways even more gung-ho about it than George W, I think Blair is viewing it
through a more 'moral' lens, which gives grounds for hope. Time will tell
whether the motives for whatever action takes place next year are social
level or intellectual level.
Cheers
Sam
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