[NMC EXP]

FYI --

More grist for the mill......

[tpaine]

From the article:

"a key theoretical point: -[of agreement]- namely, human beings act in their own self interest."

This 'agreement' is the whole argument, as I see it.
True belivers, - of whatever stripe, - simply deny that we should act in our own rational self interest.

To them, we MUST act as per the dictates of their belief system.

IE -- We must abandon our reasoning ablity, - our free will, [to ask what's in this act for me?], -- to the laws/rules of their existing system, rules dictated by their beliefs.

This is not a reasonable social contract. There has been no meeting of the minds, no fair exchange.

Rational men can arrive at reasonable rules for conduct that do not violate basic human freedoms.
True believers insist that self interest be subordinated to a common interest based only on their supposed true beliefs.

[tpaine]

From the article:

"a key theoretical point: -[of agreement]- namely, human beings act in their own self interest."

This 'agreement' is the whole argument, as I see it.
True belivers, - of whatever stripe, - simply deny that we should act in our own rational self interest.

To them, we MUST act as per the dictates of their belief system.

IE -- We must abandon our reasoning ablity, - our free will, [to ask what's in this act for me?], -- to the laws/rules of their existing system, rules dictated by their beliefs.

This is not a reasonable social contract. There has been no meeting of the minds, no fair exchange.

Rational men can arrive at reasonable rules for conduct that do not violate basic human freedoms.
--[And, imo, we have done so in our Constitution/BOR's.]


True believers insist that self interest be subordinated to a common interest based only on their supposed true beliefs.