Comments on: The One Minute Case For Individual Rights http://oneminute.rationalmind.net/individual-rights/ A collaborative blog which will present a brief argument about a controversial issue that can be read in about a minute. Mon, 15 Mar 2010 12:57:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Phoenix http://oneminute.rationalmind.net/individual-rights/comment-page-1/#comment-49177 Phoenix Sat, 19 Dec 2009 20:25:00 +0000 http://oneminute.rationalmind.net/individual-rights/#comment-49177 @dwindle Man's conceptual faculty is volitional, not automatic. And more importantly, it is not infallible; mistakes are possible to man, and you have illustrated many of them quite eloquently in your post. Where we disagree, however, is on the point that man does not need reason to survive. In today's society, a group of parasites may lobby the government to force productive individuals to provide for the needs of the parasites. But notice that this system is only sustainable so long as productive people are willing to produce. Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged illustrates a pretty extreme case of what could happen when the producers "wake up" and realize that they have a right not to be robbed. [SPOILER ALERT: when the producers go on strike, the parasitic society collapses completely within a couple of years.] Ask yourself whether slaves and unthinking dogma-worshippers are the ones responsible for liberating man from caves, from giving him fire, for discovering agriculture... for inventing automobiles and skyscrapers, for devising vaccines and cures to deadly diseases, and so forth. Then decide for yourself if the life of an animal is the proper state of man. @dwindle Man’s conceptual faculty is volitional, not automatic. And more importantly, it is not infallible; mistakes are possible to man, and you have illustrated many of them quite eloquently in your post.

Where we disagree, however, is on the point that man does not need reason to survive.

In today’s society, a group of parasites may lobby the government to force productive individuals to provide for the needs of the parasites. But notice that this system is only sustainable so long as productive people are willing to produce.

Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged illustrates a pretty extreme case of what could happen when the producers “wake up” and realize that they have a right not to be robbed. [SPOILER ALERT: when the producers go on strike, the parasitic society collapses completely within a couple of years.]

Ask yourself whether slaves and unthinking dogma-worshippers are the ones responsible for liberating man from caves, from giving him fire, for discovering agriculture… for inventing automobiles and skyscrapers, for devising vaccines and cures to deadly diseases, and so forth. Then decide for yourself if the life of an animal is the proper state of man.

]]> By: Robert Taylor http://oneminute.rationalmind.net/individual-rights/comment-page-1/#comment-37617 Robert Taylor Sat, 24 Oct 2009 22:48:29 +0000 http://oneminute.rationalmind.net/individual-rights/#comment-37617 Why would you consider it "silly" to enunciate the moral grounds of capitalism? Au contrare...it is essential. You apparently believe that unless we must experience 100% laissez-faire to have capitalism...all or nothing. Now THAT is silly! We are, at present, a semi-capitalist country BECAUSE we have diluted the Constitution on the one hand and elected and re-elected politicians that make deals with businesses to create monopolies or perform special favors for "groups"(there are no group rights). Maybe one day we'll learn to separate business and state the way we have church and state. Why would you consider it “silly” to enunciate the moral grounds of capitalism? Au contrare…it is essential. You apparently believe that unless we must experience 100% laissez-faire to have capitalism…all or nothing. Now THAT is silly! We are, at present, a semi-capitalist country BECAUSE we have diluted the Constitution on the one hand and elected and re-elected politicians that make deals with businesses to create monopolies or perform special favors for “groups”(there are no group rights). Maybe one day we’ll learn to separate business and state the way we have church and state.

]]> By: glorybe http://oneminute.rationalmind.net/individual-rights/comment-page-1/#comment-36973 glorybe Fri, 21 Aug 2009 03:10:28 +0000 http://oneminute.rationalmind.net/individual-rights/#comment-36973 The notion of capitalism is flawed beyond repair. It is not wrong to compete, to try to deliver a better product or at least a similar product at a lower price. But when that notion is taken to the level of a moral belief it is simply silly. And trying to state facts about capitalism is absurd. Name one place where capitalism has actually existed and then we can discuss its supposed advantages. Regulation and taxation occur in all cultures in some form and that precludes capitalism from existence. Since no nation has ever tried capitalism just who swears that it is either good or efficient? The notion of capitalism is flawed beyond repair. It is not wrong to compete, to try to deliver a better product or at least a similar product at a lower price. But when that notion is taken to the level of a moral belief it is simply silly. And trying to state facts about capitalism is absurd. Name one place where capitalism has actually existed and then we can discuss its supposed advantages. Regulation and taxation occur in all cultures in some form and that precludes capitalism from existence. Since no nation has ever tried capitalism just who swears that it is either good or efficient?

]]> By: S.Smith http://oneminute.rationalmind.net/individual-rights/comment-page-1/#comment-34977 S.Smith Tue, 05 May 2009 07:57:42 +0000 http://oneminute.rationalmind.net/individual-rights/#comment-34977 Rights like freedom are not individually inalienable, but inalienable in the long-term of human history. They are also existential inalienable for individuals, but common liberties are as imaginary as these digital words. Rights like freedom are not individually inalienable, but inalienable in the long-term of human history.

They are also existential inalienable for individuals, but common liberties are as imaginary as these digital words.

]]> By: dwindle http://oneminute.rationalmind.net/individual-rights/comment-page-1/#comment-34930 dwindle Sun, 03 May 2009 22:31:25 +0000 http://oneminute.rationalmind.net/individual-rights/#comment-34930 Quaint, but meaningless. None of the things are true, they are simply romantic notions of a perfect existence. Man does not need to be any more rational than animals. Consider the power religion has had over man for thousands of years. A devout worshiper obeys his master just as a squirrel obeys his instinct. He also does not need rights nor freedom - millions have lived as slave from cradle to grave and never expected a minutes freedom, yet continue breathing none the less. The only reason freedom requires rights is because they are recursive; both are essentially the same thing. Rights are, as you have likely seen throughout your life, very conflicting and alienable. Do we have a right to own a gun, or a right to live without fear of them? Right to life, or rights to an abortion? If rights were inalienable, we wouldn't debate them every four years. Quaint, but meaningless. None of the things are true, they are simply romantic notions of a perfect existence. Man does not need to be any more rational than animals. Consider the power religion has had over man for thousands of years. A devout worshiper obeys his master just as a squirrel obeys his instinct. He also does not need rights nor freedom – millions have lived as slave from cradle to grave and never expected a minutes freedom, yet continue breathing none the less. The only reason freedom requires rights is because they are recursive; both are essentially the same thing. Rights are, as you have likely seen throughout your life, very conflicting and alienable. Do we have a right to own a gun, or a right to live without fear of them? Right to life, or rights to an abortion? If rights were inalienable, we wouldn’t debate them every four years.

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