rights, rights, and still more rights

Luke Weiger lweiger at umich.edu
Mon Apr 1 14:53:24 PST 2002


----- Original Message ----- From: "Justin Schwartz" <jkschw at hotmail.com> To: <lbo-talk at lists.panix.com> Sent: Monday, April 01, 2002 11:37 AM Subject: Re: rights, rights, and still more rights


> Actually I think most Americans socialists are Lockeans.

Different readings of Locke can get you to Marx or Nozick. It's pretty clear which one I think is most defensible.


> Be that as it may,
> no matter how you arrive your conception of rights, and wherever it may
take
> you, other peoiple don't have to agree with your metaphysics, theology,
> religion. or even your idea of what rights there are so long as they and
you
> will respect each other's willingnesst to politically decide your
> differences, including your differencesa bout rights, by reference to
> democratic procedures.

What makes democracy wonderful is that it does a fairly good job of advancing a large number of conceptions of the good. An explicitly utilitarian dictatorship doesn't look very appealing even from my point of view.


> Politics is prior to philosophy. This was our very
> first discussion-remember Luke?

Sure do.


> And it doesn't seem we've budged an inch.

I'm still not clear on the terms of the discussion. One thing, however, is certain: I'm more likely to remain a democrat than a consequentialist. That doesn't mean my advocacy of democracy is in any way more essential than my particular set of normative ethics.

-- Luke


> jks
>
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