Subject:
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Re: Corporal punishment (was rah rah, canada!
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.off-topic.debate
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Date:
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Thu, 5 Feb 2004 20:04:25 GMT
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Viewed:
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671 times
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In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Christopher L. Weeks wrote:
> > In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Dave Schuler wrote:
>
> > > 3. I submit that your construction of the parent/child debt structure
> > > is at its essence arbitrary and designed to yield maximum payoff (i.e.,
> > > zero debt) for the child and maximum debt (i.e., zero payoff) for the
> > > parent.
> I went to bed thinking about this last night. I think I've overstated my
> agreement.
Nuts to that. I have you on record agreeing with me, so that's the end of it!
8^P
> Do you think the notion of personal responsibility (as a valuable
> more) is "at its essence arbitrary?"
Not personal responsibility, but the particular framing of the parent/child
contract. Larry gave a better alternative breakdown than I provided, so I'll
just defer to his response on this bit.
> I am led to my parent/child debt structure by the twin beliefs that people
> should take responsibility for their actions (having a child) and people
> can't be assigned debt without their complicit informed consent.
I guess I'm not sure about the parents' debt, or why it must be declared
absolute and unavoidable. The "arbitrary" part [see below] applies when we
apply constraints to the method by which the debt is incurred and the means by
which parents repay must that debt.
> Is it really arbitrary? And if so, what (other than physical rules) is not?
"Arbitrary" was a sloppy word choice by me, or at least it was poorly qualified,
since it can imply an almost whimsical randomness, which isn't what I meant.
Naturally, the underlying cultural structure of interpersonal responsibility has
been formed through a zillion generations in response to very real requirements,
so "arbitrary" is the last thing it is.
Dave!
The Experiment Begins 02-09-2004
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Message is in Reply To:
 | | Re: Corporal punishment (was rah rah, canada!
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| (...) I went to bed thinking about this last night. I think I've overstated my agreement. Do you think the notion of personal responsibility (as a valuable more) is "at its essence arbitrary?" I am led to my parent/child debt structure by the twin (...) (21 years ago, 5-Feb-04, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
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