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To: Forgiven_Sinner
To libertarians, individual authority is the highest. But, unlike liberals, who define right and wrong by how things feel to them and to others at any given time (completely subjective), the libertarian (objectivist) believes that one can use his human reason to ascertain what is objectively right and wrong, using factual truths found all around us in nature. Thus, the objectivist doesn't need religion to tell him what's right or wrong, but rather strives for the full development of his mature human brain, with which he can then infallibly inform himself what is right and wrong, without anyone's help, be it religious or secular.
13 posted on 05/01/2003 12:54:43 PM PDT by Emile
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To: Emile
To libertarians, individual authority is the highest. But, unlike liberals, who define right and wrong by how things feel to them and to others at any given time (completely subjective), the libertarian (objectivist) believes that one can use his human reason to ascertain what is objectively right and wrong, using factual truths found all around us in nature.

It seems that you are claiming that the individual is the highest authority, then that nature--or perhaps, truth--is the highest authority. Do you mean highest human authority?

Thus, the objectivist doesn't need religion to tell him what's right or wrong, but rather strives for the full development of his mature human brain, with which he can then infallibly inform himself what is right and wrong, without anyone's help, be it religious or secular.

The brain is *infallible* in matters of moral judgement? How? I don't think any of my rational faculties are perfected.

Speaking of rational faculties, must not one learn how to think before one can think well? Since the imperfect cannot make itself more perfect(you can't give what you don't have) the help of others is quite necessary for the formation of one's reason and for reason's continued quest towards perfection.

31 posted on 05/01/2003 2:12:26 PM PDT by Dumb_Ox
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