The fundamental rule of logic is: there are no contradictions.
Nothing can both be and not be, no proposition can be both true and not true, no choice is both right and wrong, no act is both good and bad.
If so, there is a fundamental flaw in our Constitutions "republican form of government"; - wherein the States of the Union can enact laws that regulate/prohibit both individual behaviors, and the possession of 'dangerous items' of property, - in order to ensure that 'community standards' [the will of the majority] are followed.
He goes on to say:
It means an individual owns his own life, because he either owns it completely, or to some extent is a slave, and slaves are not free to choose. -
- It means he must be free to keep and use the product of his efforts because it is an extension of himself, and one cannot learn from the consequences of one's choices if someone else is in charge of them. That's called property rights.
Constitutionally enacted State regulations are "both good and bad." - They protect community standards while regulating an individuals liberty. - Not so?
“Constitutionally enacted State regulations are ‘both good and bad.’ - They protect community standards while regulating an individuals liberty. - Not so?”
I’m not a collectivist, I have no idea what “community” (or tribal, or gang, or class) standards are. I only know what objective standards are. Anything that, “regulates,” is not “liberty.” Anyone or anything that regulates what an individual does with their own person or property is bad. I’m sure your namesake would agree with me.
Hank
I think the author refers to, but overreaches when he does so, the law of excluded middle. It refers to statements of fact, however. Good and bad, by comparison, are statements of values. Not only they vary from person to person, but even a single individual struggles to ascertain what is good and what is bad. The law of the excluded middle simply does not apply here.
I’ll take the Constitution any day over mushy-headed libertarian “philosophy.”
The good vs. bad analogy is a reference to logical thought. You’ve missed the point.