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Discussion Membership
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Second generation creations
[Note Ilya Somin at Volokh Conspiracy considers democracy versus human rights. I choose to see the issue this way.] Both democracy and human rights are second generation creations. Typically they are discussed as if they were first generation creations and their justification and value are all the more slippery for it. Look at the polemics and the noise that invariably follows whenever the issues come up. By "second generation" creations we mean that democracy and human rights are not the goals, but rather the results of thinking wisely and well. When personal experience is used to project possible futures the results invariably lead to two things:
Unfortunately, when people argue for second generation creations, it's ineffective -- like pushing a rope -- but that won't stop people trying. As a mind experiment, to order your own universe -- and that is all you are responsible for -- peel back your culture, religion, politics, and social habits to ask yourself when two people get together, what is expected of the relationship. Darned little, it turns out: First, appreciating that sometimes you think you are right when you are mistaken, you want to engage others in conversation. Second, you want others to treat you as you would treat them. Now we are in a position to manufacture second generation concepts like democracy and human rights. Democracy is a process of continuous renewal where the smallest voice is empowered to try to convince others there might be a better way. Human rights is a process of reciprocity where consideration of others is tempered according to how others treat you. It is so much easier when people don't push the rope -- arguing for democracy and human rights, but, instead, help others deduce them for themselves. [Macro error: Can't find a sub-table named "commentIt".]
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