Ed Dodson responding... Robin Hanson wrote: > Ed Dodson wrote: > >I admit to being extreme only in my defense of objectively-derived > >principle. ...extreme in belief or action without objectivity ... > >most inflexibile ... are those who are so far beyond objectivity > >as never to be confused by the facts. > > So it seems to me that you accept the model of the paper - the > correlation is due to a large group of stupid inflexible people. > Which means that being extreme is on average a sign of ignorance. > You just think you are an exception to the usual rule. > My conclusion is rather different. Remember the quote from Aristotle borrowed by the rock band the Moody Blues -- "Child is Father to the Man." It is the exceptional person who is able to significantly escape the exposure to intense nurturing in cultural relativism. Leaving one's community of early life to interact with others, broad reading and studying and an intellect driven by curiosity all contribute to the process. There is, of course, an enormous distinction between 'stupidity' and 'ignorance'. Few people are stupid; many are ignorant or much. Stupidity and apathy have a stronger correlation than stupidity and extremism. Mass ignorance has a strong correlation to blind obedience and to criminal license in the name of an extremist (i.e., an unprincipled) cause. I do not see this as a rule; rather, this seems to be a deeply-embedded quality of human behavior influenced by entrenched socio-political arrangements and institutions that deny fundamental liberty and champion privilege.
begin:vcard n:Dodson;Edward tel;fax:215-575-1718 tel;home:856-428-3472 tel;work:215-575-1819 x-mozilla-html:TRUE org:Fannie Mae;Housing and Community Development, Northeast Regional Office (NERO) version:2.1 email;internet:[EMAIL PROTECTED] title:Senior Affordable Housing Business Manager note:If you need to reach me during non-business hours, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] adr;quoted-printable:;;1900 Market Street=0D=0ASuite 800;Philadelphia;PA;19103;U.S.A. fn:Edward J. Dodson end:vcard
