jrrt@ahuta.UUCP (r.mitchell) (04/23/85)
>I don't believe rights exist ... (Mike Huybensz)
I thought as much. I'm content to leave the discussion here,
although I hope all netters will ponder carefully the consequences
of Mr. Huybensz's statement. (Barry Fagin)
OK, I'll bite. I missed the original posting, so I can't tell if
you are quoting Mr. Huybensz out of context, but I agree with what
you extracted. I don't believe in rights, either, if by "rights"
you mean some absolute standards of behavior that are beyond argument.
I can intellectually understand the concept of "legal rights," even though
I dispute their claim on my behavior. I cannot understand the concept
of absolute rights being intrinsic to the universe.
I do believe in "courtesies," though. I will not kill you, steal from you,
tell you whether you may have an abortion, deny you a loan or fail to hire
you because of your race/creed/sex/age/sexual preference/whatever, etc.
However, I do so not because of any alleged "right" of yours to life,
property, self-determination, or freedom from discrimination. No, I
do not do those things because you are a human being, and I extend
such courtesies to all human beings. Out of respect for our common
humanity, I treat you with dignity and rationality. You may or may not
reciprocate, as you see fit, but I'd be a hypocrite if I said you *should*
do so. I think it would be rational of you to extend those courtesies to
everyone around you, and I may wish everyone did likewise, but I can't
expect everyone to agree with me. After all, I have no *right* to tell
you how to run your life.
I suppose this conversation is now treading on net.philosophy turf.
Rob Mitchell
{allegra,ihnp4}!ahuta!jrrt
Let me have my way exactly in everything, and you will find that a
pleasanter creature does not exist. -- Carlyle