moral high ground musings #2

[RACE --- <race@midusa.net>]

i've been thinking more about the concern of the affirmative or the
negative depending on topic direction winning debates by playing a form
of argumentative King of the Hill with regard to racism, sexism,
transgenderism, or whatnot.

another common point in this strategy is to employ notions of
deontological ethics to the question designated by the case or disad
impact.  but it is a particular form of deontology, rule-based,
deontology which is the tactic.  This notion of universal rule-based
ethics is far from universally accepted.  it will not be difficult to
create arguments which function as absolute takeouts or turns from
literatures that within the notions of deontology that suggest
situational factors must be included in the deontological examination. 
for these folks, the notion of deontology becomes more a rule-of-thumb
than a command imperative without regard to the ethical complexities of
situations.

in addition, the leap from a deontological claim concerning the above
categories and a necessitation of active-action is rarely developed in
the debaters' arguments or their evidence.  Kuswa's fairly recent reply
to Mitchell provides the groundwork for some thinking which can attack
the notion that the deontological determination necessitates active (or
perhaps presumably constructive) action.  

When the use of the decision rule is applied to other arguments in the
debate, for example - the disad proves they're racist - and other such
cross applications, it seems that the rule-based deontology exposes its
weaknesses.  Combined with the assumption of the necessity of
constructive action, anything that anyone does at anytime which is not
directly fighting the ethical question is violating the ethical
question.  this would probably rule out eating, friendship, sex and
other of life's pleasures.

just another attempt to point out that perhaps the moral high ground is
more molehill than mountain.

david rhaesa

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