On Sat, 14 Aug 2004, andie nachgeborenen wrote:
> Fortunately,
> those are the circumstances under which we find ourselves, so we are
> lucky eniugh to have stumbled on, if not the right views about
> everything, at least the right general sort of views and ways to find
> out what the right views are. That may sound arrogant, but it's the
> basis of the scientific revolution. And since Miles and I don't disagree
> (although Chris and I do) that there are no differences of kind beltween
> scientific and moral beliefs, I think we can be moderately confident of
> our moral beliefs too.
Yes, we may be as lucky as you suggest. Still, looking back on human history, I suspect many of the moral and scientific beliefs we're moderately confident about will be considered ignorant and barbaric in the future. As long as our confidence doesn't solidify into unassailable dogma (e.g., the way some people treat the U. S. Constitution), I'm a happy camper.
> Well, Miles, Judge Posner and I are both white Chicagoan American Jewish
> atheist middle class lawyers, and we have different beliefs and actions
> . . . . So I am not sure how much help your answer is.
>
> jks
Well, your different beliefs and actions demonstrate that your social group memberships differ. On the other hand, you share many activities and beliefs with another lawyer that you don't share with the rest of us, and that marks you guys as part of a "lawyer" subculture with your own language and rituals.
Miles