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From: orb@whuxl.UUCP (SEVENER)
Newsgroups: net.politics.theory
Subject: Re: Re: Explorations of "social-interest": Back to Basics
Message-ID: <664@whuxl.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 24-Jun-85 12:48:55 EDT
Article-I.D.: whuxl.664
Posted: Mon Jun 24 12:48:55 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 25-Jun-85 03:28:58 EDT
References: <657@whuxl.UUCP> <2380043@acf4.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Whippany
Lines: 40

> >/* orb@whuxl.UUCP (SEVENER) /  5:46 pm  Jun 18, 1985 */
>  
> >Unless I am either a tinhorn dictator or some sort of privileged
> >aristocrat or a high-ranking party member that isn't going to happen.
> >And even if  it *does* happen does that make it right?
> >Unless some higher purpose is served (eg fire engines and ambulances)
> >it is *unjust* and *unfair* for one driver to have more privileges than
> >another.
> 
> What do you mean by "higher purpose?"  Why should such a purpose
> (fire engines, etc.) be considered higher?
> 
 
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?
 
> >By continuing endless debate about *self* interest, nonLibertarians
> >are failing to address the fundamental questions of politics of
> >*social* interests.
> 
> How do you suppose that a group can have interests which are not derived
> from the interests of individuals within the group?
> 						Mike Sykora
 
I do not suppose that a group has some interests not derived from the 
interests of its individuals or potential individual members.
Quite the contrary, the existence of traffic laws which apply equally
to all members of the group benefit them all.
How do you suppose that there are no interests which individuals
have in common which benefits all of them?  How do you suppose that
conflicting interests of individuals are to be decided? Or do you suppose
that individuals's separate self-interests will always be completely
harmonious by some miraculous process?
 
                          tim sevener whuxl!orb


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