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From: laura@utcsstat.UUCP (Laura Creighton)
Newsgroups: net.philosophy
Subject: Re: Plato, A and B
Message-ID: <917@utcsstat.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 20-Aug-83 04:17:25 EDT
Article-I.D.: utcsstat.917
Posted: Sat Aug 20 04:17:25 1983
Date-Received: Sat, 20-Aug-83 05:46:40 EDT
References: <737@lanl-a.UUCP>
Organization: U. of Toronto, Canada
Lines: 19

If you decide not to give the sword to Damocles, then you believe that
there is something more important than your rational bargain with
Damocles (for instance, his wife, and her lover). All very well
and good in such an example where most people will agree that life
is rather important. But, you have now given yourself the right
to judge other people by what you believe is good. Where does this
belief in good come from? Why are Damocles' victims important to you?
Pretend that you never knew them, and that Damocles is a very good
and valuable friend to you, who will never forgive you (amd may try
to kill you) if you do not give him the sword. Pretend that you
have some means of protecting yourself from the authorities. (IE
it would be impossible for them to prove that you gave Damocles the
sword since only you and Damocles knew about the bargain).

Right. does your belief in the "right to life" still win out? if
so, is it rational?

Laura Creighton
utzoo!utcsstat!laura