When British Tory leader David Cameron issued his stunning criticism of the obese, the poor and the politically correct this week, he invoked an academic phrase that has become the bete noir of conservative philosophy.And, apparently we've institutionalised our disdain for critical thinking...
"We prefer moral neutrality, a refusal to make judgments about what is good and bad behaviour, right and wrong behaviour. Bad. Good. Right. Wrong," he told a downtrodden Glasgow riding.
"These are words that our political system and our public sector scarcely dare use any more."
Professors such as McGill's Douglas Farrow say that three decades later, moral neutrality remains the prevailing wisdom of his students, who believe there is no such things as absolute values.Remember when being "discriminating" wasn't a crime against society?
"A student that comes to McGill will be very loath to say that any behaviour is morally evil. They might express their own revulsion, but if you ask them if this is morally wrong, if it is an evil act, they tell you that they don't want to judge."
He said the notion of tolerance has created more intolerance because people are afraid to judge, and the more reticent they are, the more issues are buried--and perhaps more likely to rear their head unexpectedly.
I fear for my country.
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RELATED: Need another example, Skippy?
How about modern day Africa? Say Zimbabwe, or the Sudan.
Two choices here, my friend... and please don't tell me that letting the African Union handle things is any kind of actual solution.
One... we intervene... with force. Two... we watch... as these folks slaughter each other like hogs.
That's not so hard, is it?
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LAST WORD: Screw moral neutrality
Third "Order of Canada" returned to sender.
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