Friday, May 23, 2008

Keeping It Simple

Thomas Jefferson created what is commonly called The Jefferson Bible. He did a decent job of keeping it simple. I would like to simplify it even further. I call it The Anarchist Bible.

“In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.”

17 comments:

Quantum_Flux said...

What if I want to get run over by a car though?

Ann R. Key said...

While somewhat ludicrous, I see you have presented the "flaw" in the statement. I actually prefer the saying by Confucius.

"Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself"

Quantum_Flux said...

I think that a cop would be more than happy to run over me with his squad car if I ran over an old lady crossing the street.... your oversimplification still stands.

Ann R. Key said...

Oversimplification. I hadn't considered that.

Why did you throw in the cop? The cop is unnecessary. If you want to get run over by a car, then you wouldn't be doing something to someone else that you wouldn't want done to you when you run over an old lady. Therefore, the two sayings are essentially equal. My question is: Do you want to be run over by a car?

Quantum_Flux said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Quantum_Flux said...

No, I don't really want to get run over by a car, but the integrity of it is that if I drive drunk getting out of a bar and run over somebody, say an old lady crossing the road, I'd feel like I deserve to be run over a car myself. I suppose that is a form of a self-imposed "eye for an eye" which is a form of "do unto others...".

Bah, I'm just rationalizing my position. I was just sort of indifferent when I asked that question....Sorry about if I'm dragging down your first post and all with my crappy hypothetical socratic questions.

Ann R. Key said...

Better than a sharp stick in the eye.

Quantum_Flux said...

Unless you want a sharp stick in the eye.

Ann R. Key said...

Ha!

Now what?

Quantum_Flux said...

Um, post a second one.

Quantum_Flux said...

You think you're so wise. What if I want to get raped by Jenna Jameson and her pornstar girlfriends though?

Ann R. Key said...

10 posts! Well, four are mine. Six is as good as ten, right?

To a certain degree, yes, I believe I am wise.

Assuming that Jenna's friends are all female, you are stating you would like to be raped by females. Very well. Me too. I would add the qualifier: gently. I certainly wouldn't want Jenna to use a bowling pin on me.

Your argument is that since you want to be raped, its OK if you rape someone else. However, if you were to rape a female, it wouldn't be a female doing the raping as in your scenario. If you want a male to rape you, my job gets tougher. Moreover, I suppose the desire to be on the receiving end of a homosexual rape is a distinct possibility somewhere amongst the population. I'll have to think on it some.

At the very least, the golden rule applies in the vast majority of scenarios. Do you have another scenario for me to mull over?

Quantum_Flux said...

Thrown out of an airplane

Ann R. Key said...

Do you want to be thrown out of a plane?

Quantum_Flux said...

Yes

Ann R. Key said...

Without a parachute?

Quantum_Flux said...

It depends how old I am, or if I'm still alive when I'm being pushed. If I'm 1000 years old (and still alive), go ahead and push me out the airplane without a parachute, but if I'm just 100 I'm going to need a parachute. If I'm a 100 year old fresh corpse, then wait a few days after I'm dead and then toss me out. I think I can still feel pain for the first day or so after I'm dead though.