Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version nyu B notes v1.5 12/10/84; site acf4.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!whuxlm!harpo!decvax!genrad!mit-eddie!think!harvard!seismo!cmcl2!acf4!mms1646 From: mms1646@acf4.UUCP (Michael M. Sykora) Newsgroups: net.politics.theory Subject: Re: Explorations of "social-interest": Back to Basics Message-ID: <2380062@acf4.UUCP> Date: Fri, 28-Jun-85 01:05:00 EDT Article-I.D.: acf4.2380062 Posted: Fri Jun 28 01:05:00 1985 Date-Received: Mon, 1-Jul-85 06:38:40 EDT References: <657@whuxl.UUCP> Organization: New York University Lines: 29 >/* orb@whuxl.UUCP (SEVENER) / 12:48 pm Jun 24, 1985 */ >I think it is self-evident that the possibility of saving people's lives >by the prompt arrival of a fire engine or ambulance far outweighs the >possible cost for the average commuter of being 5 minutes late for work. >Can you understand the worth of human lives, Mike? It is not at all self-evident. I could claim that 5 minutes of my time are worth more "to me" than some stranger's life. You could not claim I am wrong, because you have no way of knowing my values. This is the central point here: the concept of "worth" is only meaningful in the context of someone's values. >How do you suppose that there are no interests which individuals >have in common which benefits all of them? This is not clear. Please rephrase it. >How do you suppose that >conflicting interests of individuals are to be decided? By a system of laws based on individuals' rights to life, liberty and justly acquired property (what constitutes "justly acquired" is certainly debatale), and a government to enforce these laws and only these laws (read: little or no new legislation). > tim sevener whuxl!orb Mike Sykora