From: Jim Choate <ravage@EINSTEIN.ssz.com>
Date: Thu, 17 Sep 1998 17:38:34 +0800
To: cypherpunks@EINSTEIN.ssz.com (Cypherpunks Distributed Remailer)
Subject: RE: Democracy... (fwd)
Message-ID: <199809172303.SAA16982@einstein.ssz.com>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text



Forwarded message:

> From: Matthew James Gering <mgering@ecosystems.net>
> Subject: RE: Democracy... (fwd)
> Date: Thu, 17 Sep 1998 14:43:32 -0700

> > There's your first problem, your argument won't stand in the 
> 
> No, there is a strict difference between the defining a word and
> defining a philosophy coined after that word.

The *point* is neither word definition or philosophy, the point *is* the
5,000+ years of human history that define the issues related to the
individual, political expression, and religous freedom. The meaning is in
the context (not the medium - respects to Marshall).

> > Religion and by extension faith are not
> > constrained by reason or logic.
> 
> How do you account for this contradiction. I hold a personal philosophy
> that is strictly and absolutely constrained by reason and logic.

In your mind. You make the same mistake bejillions before you have made and
continue to make. Just because you are satisfied with it is no justification
to foist it off on me or to expect it will satisfy me. As Santyana said,

Those who don't understand history are doomed to repeate it.

This is why it is important to not fall into your 'relativistic' abolition
of history.

> Do you believe in THE FORCE, as described by the great prophet George
> Lucas?

You really should give up drugs.

> If you say "Yes," am I to claim that is your *religious* belief, not
> subject to reason, logic or empirical evidence?

Absolutely, well except for one very important point. It isn't your claiming
it's my religion that makes it so, it's my claiming it that makes it so.
What *you* claim is my religion is irrelevant and immaterial.

If we follow your plan we would outlaw anything that couldn't be reduced to
an equation in some predicate calculus. There is more in heaven and earth
than in your philosophy Horatio.


    ____________________________________________________________________

                            The seeker is a finder.

                                     Ancient Persian Proverb

       The Armadillo Group       ,::////;::-.          James Choate
       Austin, Tx               /:'///// ``::>/|/      ravage@ssz.com
       www.ssz.com            .',  ||||    `/( e\      512-451-7087
                           -====~~mm-'`-```-mm --'-
    --------------------------------------------------------------------