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From: mms1646@acf4.UUCP (Michael M. Sykora)
Newsgroups: net.politics.theory
Subject: Re: Explorations of "social-interest": Back to Basics
Message-ID: <2380055@acf4.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 27-Jun-85 21:30:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: acf4.2380055
Posted: Thu Jun 27 21:30:00 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 30-Jun-85 03:25:31 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
deatale), and a government to enforce these laws and only these laws
(read: no or little new legislation).

>                          tim sevener whuxl!orb

					Mike Sykora