X-Message-Number: 16890 Date: Thu, 5 Jul 2001 11:35:28 -0700 (PDT) From: Scott Badger <> Subject: Re: Does inherent value exist? Lee Corbin Wrote: "But that's how progress actually will be made. After all, the Golden Rule started the same way: I'm sure that many people didn't like the sound of it at first, but came to acknowledge that it described a lot of their behavior pretty well. And then the way was then clear for their intelligence to seek its wider applicability. Dave's rule, approximately, is "The interests of every entity should be considered", and it may end up having the same history." Yes, and as many already know, this shift in focus from self to others has already been succinctly expressed in the platinum rule, designed to replace the golden rule in the face of increased levels of multicultural awareness and appreciation for diversity. The platinum rule is, Do unto others as they would have you do unto them. Dave Pizer wrote: So I am looking for technology to change our value systems to such that all life has value so long as it doesn't harm other innocent life. If this is so, the final end of such a shift could be (ultimately) to inherent values. Aahh, but who gets to define "harmful" and "innocent"? Again, I agree with your prediction about increased tech >> increased abundance >> increased altruism, but I fail to see why human attributions would ultimately lead to inherent values ... (i.e. values independent of human existence). Perhaps instead of asking whether inherent values exist, it would be more to the point to ask; Do we really need values to be inherent? What s the advantage? What s wrong with values that evolve with and are constructed by the culture? Wouldn t that be more likely to liberate and empower us in the long run? Besides, at what point in the future could anyone possibly say that they know which values are inherent/absolute and which aren t? Of course, I m not a professional philosopher so any clarification is welcome. Best wishes Scott Badger "Vita Perpetuem" __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get personalized email addresses from Yahoo! Mail http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/ Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=16890