I do think, though, that seeking out something like a categorical imperative is a worthy endeavor, even if it cannot answer all questions, and even if implementing it in practice poses challenges.
For example,
Coercive force must not be initiated against any unwilling person,
I do think, though, that seeking out something like a categorical imperative is a worthy endeavor, even if it cannot answer all questions, and even if implementing it in practice poses challenges.
For example,
Coercive force must not be initiated against any unwilling person,
and
The explicit consent of the human person is required for any transaction or imposition of authority, force, or governance.
Thank you, sir! Will check out your post, and I admire anyone's attempt to codify as much as possible some formulation of universal moral/legal principles, with the obvious caveat that a good will and a virtuous character are necessary to reliably and beneficially apply those moral/legal principles. Kind of a chicken-and-egg problem, but one that seems to be inescapable.
Excellent stuff; thank you!
I do think, though, that seeking out something like a categorical imperative is a worthy endeavor, even if it cannot answer all questions, and even if implementing it in practice poses challenges.
For example,
Coercive force must not be initiated against any unwilling person,
and
The explicit consent of the human person is required for any transaction or imposition of authority, force, or governance.
I think we can derive those via induction, deduction, and intuition, as I attempt to do here: https://christophercook.substack.com/p/is-any-government-morally-permissible
Thank you, sir! Will check out your post, and I admire anyone's attempt to codify as much as possible some formulation of universal moral/legal principles, with the obvious caveat that a good will and a virtuous character are necessary to reliably and beneficially apply those moral/legal principles. Kind of a chicken-and-egg problem, but one that seems to be inescapable.