Logic and intellect are essential for any rational philosophy. I think common sense is a subjective phenomena, since Marx would claim that collectivism is common sense based on his theory of historical inevitability.
Regarding the Founders, they only way I could buy that their morality is not based on Judeo Christian principles would be if they had no exposure to these philosophies of any kind. If they had been educated with only Greek philosophy and been shielded from all else, and developed the government they did, then I would say their morality is based on Greek principles. Could someone develop a philosophy like the Founders solely from introspective analysis? Certainly, and that would be quite a brilliant mind at that! I think that would only be possible in the total absence of the knowledge of the wealth of Western philosophy. _____ From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of mark robert Sent: Monday, January 02, 2006 9:13 PM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: [Libertarian] Re: Fwd: The "W" In Christmas Geof, Regarding your last question: Do you not acknowledge that ethics/morality can come from common sense / intellect / logic alone? -Mark _____ I can buy most of your reasoning. The only thing I have trouble with is that you try to deny that Western morality is based on Judeo Christian principles. Not to kill, not to steal, not to covet the private property of your neighbor. All these things are the basis of the ethics of life and liberty. These colonies, and the states which they became were settled by Puritans. They were versed in the Calvinist and Lutheran traditions which opposed the need for priests and Popes to achieve grace and salvation. Thomas Paine spoke out against the churches of nations. That is exactly what the 1st Amendment was designed to prevent. Of that, there is no doubt. They may not have based the law on the Bible as law, but that heritage is what formed their morality. To then infer that the Founders morality is not based on their own Judeo Christian heritage, as followers of Christ, not the Christian church makes no sense. Their morality did not spring from some pagan well. For the sake of argument, if they intended to completely discount the teachings of Christ and the Deity as a source of morality, then from whence does Western morality and ethics come? _____ _____ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ForumWebSiteAt HYPERLINK "http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Libertarian"http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Lib ertarian _____ YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS * Visit your group "HYPERLINK "http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Libertarian"Libertarian"; on the web. * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: HYPERLINK "mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]"Libertar [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the HYPERLINK "http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/"Yahoo! Terms of Service. _____ -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.371 / Virus Database: 267.14.10/218 - Release Date: 1/2/2006 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.371 / Virus Database: 267.14.10/218 - Release Date: 1/2/2006 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ForumWebSiteAt http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Libertarian Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Libertarian/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
