quote:
Originally posted by martin dufresne:
[b]RosaL asks: "I'd be interested in knowing how you explain or justify your strong beliefs, however. Do you just intuit the truth? Or, at least, the good?" My strong beliefs are based on desire for justice. I don't need to appeal for reason to justify it. As for guidance, I look at what the oppressed are saying, and I examine arguments for rationality, yes, but also for other criteria: correspondence to experience (theirs and mine), intuition, yes, commonality of analysis with other progressive-minded folks, lessons of history if any...
Sorry if this disappoints the Mr. Spocks among us, but rationality shows severe limits when it is touted as the royal way to the truth.[/b]
I hate to break it to you martin, but many people believe in justice, but it is religious justice. The logical assertion that every human being has an inherent right to dignity, freedom and equality is disproven by the mere belief in religious justice. Some of these people are even oppressed. Muslims are an oppressed groups, but some Muslims would argue that an honour killing is just. Indians in British India were oppressed, but burnt widows alive.
It is through rational and reasoned morality that we can argue against some of these poisonous beliefs.