[rogerv]

I'm not sure I have a list, just some intuitions on how this works that need to be fleshed out. I like where Kant starts. He finds we have a basic obligation to show respect for persons, that involves, among other things, keeping our promises, not lying, not treating other people as simply means to our ends but as people who have ends of their own. His list of duties includes helping others when you can (duties of beneficence, Ross calls them), to develop our own talents, and to not commit suicide. This is a very partial list, but certainly goes beyond parental duties in a number of directions. Let's start with an easy one--duty to perform contracts. People are free to enter into, or refrain from entering into contracts. But once in a contract, they are not free to fail to perform. If those are not enforced, if we allow fraud and cheating, we are all worse off. Trust should be the norm, but in some place in society, trust is not enough. We have enforceable duty.

[KJacob]

Let's start with an easy one--duty to perform contracts. People are free to enter into, or refrain from entering into contracts. But once in a contract, they are not free to fail to perform.

I agree

not treating other people as simply means to our ends but as people who have ends of their own

Not something that can be enforced.

His list of duties includes helping others when you can (duties of beneficence, Ross calls them), to develop our own talents, and to not commit suicide.

People cannot be forced to do any of these things without losing a lot of freedom. I will agree that if more people did these things (of their own freewill) the world would likely be a better place. But any attempt to force this behavior is frankly wrong.

[Corinthian Warrior]

For those that are unaware of it, Popper is the intellectual who mentored George Soros to his PhD at the London School of Economics. George Soros is the big funder of Move On.

[airborne]

My point in starting this thread is to focus on the process by which we make the big decisions about policy. The point is not to find some infallible method--there is no such thing--but to find a good method. And a good method for me would be one that allows us to learn from experience.

. He finds we have a basic obligation to show respect for persons, that involves, among other things, keeping our promises, not lying, not treating other people as simply means to our ends but as people who have ends of their own.

That's not how the majority of Democrats behave. Saying something doesn't make you honest. Being honest does. Your party doesn't subscribe to that principle.

[trisham]

I'm not sure I have a list, just some intuitions

*************

Always a bad sign..