Subject: Re: [extropy-chat] Engineered Religion-- Your Mom and the Machine

From: Mike Lorrey <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2005 14:08:12 -0800 (PST)

The problem with rule two is that the entire structure of the natural
world contradicts it, i.e. organisms pulverize each other for their raw
materials all the time, ergo it is not a universal moral legislation.

--- Damien Broderick <[email-masked]> wrote:
> At 11:45 AM 3/25/2005 -0600, John Wright wrote:
> 
> 
> >RULE ONE: the rule
> >of evidence for any proposition is that it is trustworthy to the
> degree 
> >that the
> >testamony of the senses supports, or, at least, fails to contradict
> it.
> >
> >The machine says Rule One is itself not open to empirical
> verification or
> >denial. No possible test or combination of tests will bring to the
> sense
> >impressions confirmation of a positive universal statement.
> 
> >  RULE TWO:
> >any moral proposition which does not have the property of being a
> universal
> >moral legislation is bad. If you would not want to be pulverized for
> your raw
> >materials, you should not do it unto others, please.
> 
> >RULE THREE: Listen
> >to your mother. What I say goes.
> 
> All rules of this kind are (can fruitfully be regarded as) prudential
> 
> heuristics. The test of their worth is pragmatic success or
> effectiveness 
> as guides to conduct in the world we seem to share.
> 
> Damien Broderick
> 
> 
> 
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Mike Lorrey
Vice-Chair, 2nd District, Libertarian Party of NH
"Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom.
It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves."
                                      -William Pitt (1759-1806) 
Blog: http://intlib.blogspot.com

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