From: Wim Nusselder (wim.nusselder@antenna.nl)
Date: Tue May 25 2004 - 07:20:37 BST
Dear Jon,
You wrote 24 May 2004 09:39:58 -0400:
'based on the above guidelines [it is irrational to motivate action with
unrealistic ends ... It is immoral to enforce ends that are not shared by
those influenced ], America never would have fought for its independence
from England'.
You're right. Perceived unrealism doesn't automatically make action immoral.
As I wrote:
'Lack of information, certainty and ... politically motivated disagreement
about intended and unintended effects complicate matters even more.'
Did the majority of the American colonists not share (i.e. disagree) with
the END of independence? You are only writing about their opinion about the
MEANS. ('Only one third supported the war.')
A seemingly unrealistic end being realized after all doesn't automatically
make it moral either. That depends on side-effects and alternatives. It
would have been more moral if the USA had become independent in a largely
non-violent way, like India (if we forget about the very violent separation
of India and Pakistan that followed). By the standards of the time American
independence didn't have too much negative side-effects as far as I know and
non-violent struggle may not have been an option yet. So yes, I would also
assess it as a moral step forward on hindsight.
Given lack of information, uncertainty of effects and politically motivated
disagreement we have to steer by rules of thumb and post-rational
visions/callings. (I consider post-rational visions/callings as dim
perceptions at the 4th level of 5th level patterns of value that are
starting to form.) I wouldn't call the visions of George Bush post-rational,
though. They rather seem to cater to the pre-rational and irrational parts
of his constituency (as well as to the rational, but immoral self-interest
of the rich and powerful).
As rules of thumb I would suggest that freedom struggle that is 'owned' by
those it is meant for tends to be more moral than liberation from outside
and that violence increases the risk of negative side-effects.
With friendly greetings,
Wim
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