Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Scope of Goverment under Democratic Moral Pluralism

The basis of law is a moral code. The purpose of morality (or ethics) is to allow people to work together without having to constantly redefine expectations of each other nor rules regarding interactions. Morality, clearly is cultural. One learns in from their family. One learns it from their co-workers. One learns it from the professors and various media.

Some morality is inherent. Not all. For example, killing another human is considered almost universally to be bad. But there are so many exceptions to the rule.

The question then becomes what of law that attempts to govern people who accept different moral codes? To apply it to yourself: does your goverment allow things you find unacceptable in a civilized society? Do you think your goverment meddles in things that are none of its business? Do you find it spending your tax money on reprehensible things?

In a democracy that has a common culture and a generally accpeted moral framework this is not an issue. Also this is not an issue under federalism. Finally, if one believes in the cosmic unity of mankind - i.e. that all people are the same and naturally gravitate to the same moral code than this is not an issue. I am reminded here of those studies by anthropoligists searching desperately for underlying commonality in the diverse peoples they study. Democracy works only under those conditions. You must be believe that the people voting are not going to force you to do immoral things, allow society to become hell (by your standards), or force you to support that which you hate via taxation. If you find your goverment destroying all that which is good and supporting evil the only allegiance you can owe it can be that which comes of coercion. I suppose that means that a fourth option exists for democracy: the majority morality can forcibly supress the minority - provided that the majority sees the minority as evil. I hate ... because they ...

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