On Sat, 4 Nov 1995, Dr. Ivan Blanco wrote:
> I see LAW as something that has a fixed date attached to it. As such, LAw
> does not change, because it is locked into that fixed moment. Story is
> more dynamic, and changes through time!
Ivan, I see your point, but I think there are different laes at work in
Ishmael. I refelct on the Kantian imperatives. Treating people as ends
is not necessarily a law, but has the application of value and decisions.
Kant also put forth the Universal Law formulation which I subscribe. That
is, "Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time
will that it should become a universal law." Here, maxim, law, accord,
and will all describe in one form or another guidance. To me law is
guidance and some law (as in Ishmael) is self-evident.
While in Chicago a few years back, I remember thinking how different the
unwritten traffic laws were. Pariculary important is stop light
etiquette. Most people run red lights right after they change to red.
The traffic continues through the intersection until someone (like me)
loses his nerve and obeys the signal. I remember someone yelling at me
for stopping at a red light. I felt endangered. Some laws are simply "it
would be good for society if..." type of laws. It seems the conversation
in Ishmael was intended to be one of "you won'y survive unless...."
-- Jesse White jwhite@comp.uark.edu