It's been kicking around in my head for days now, but Professor Cross was musing on Facebook about the run-up to the Iraq war. In his judgment, the standard for just war was not met, because there was no threat of an imminent attack. That observation has been made in many quarters for a long time now, and is not in itself controversial anymore. Yet he went on to say that the decision to engage in a preemptive war, based on the possibility of horrific attacks in the future, has legitimized the preemptive use of force by police against citizens. The professor said in effect that we were facing the consequences of our own philosophy.
As much as I hate to admit it, I think he's right. While I'm at it, I think the good professor would enjoy watching a film called, "Minority Report". It's about this sort of preemptive consequentialism. It's also a theological reflection on sovereignty and free will. [You only like it because it has Tom Cruise.--ed.]
In any case, building a practical, working philosophy of the dignity of every person is going to take some doing. At least the start of it is identifying those philosophies which deny the dignity of every person, whether in principle, or in practice.
As much as I hate to admit it, I think he's right. While I'm at it, I think the good professor would enjoy watching a film called, "Minority Report". It's about this sort of preemptive consequentialism. It's also a theological reflection on sovereignty and free will. [You only like it because it has Tom Cruise.--ed.]
In any case, building a practical, working philosophy of the dignity of every person is going to take some doing. At least the start of it is identifying those philosophies which deny the dignity of every person, whether in principle, or in practice.
Comments