Justice seems to be one of those "universal" values that Appiah argues is shared across cultures, but it is also one that is thin - something we all agree is good until, perhaps, we se what it means in practice.
My question is Does our (and their - the "TALIBAN") commitment to justice provide a sufficient ground for "conversation" from which we might come to a better understanding of the taliban and ourselves? Remember, we execute criminals too.
2006-07-26 16:52:54 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
It is not a matter of punishment, it is a matter of defining criminal acts. The Taliban makes criminals of people based on religion, personal opinions, and even slightly perceived anti-Taliban sentiment. The closest parallel in American culture would be McCarthyism, hunting for Communists by innuendo and rumor alone.
"Our" "commitment to justice" bears no resemblance to any portion of the Taliban.
2006-07-26 17:40:39 · answer #1 · answered by Jim T 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The previous answers actually illustrate why a commitment to justice is not a similarity to begin a real dialog with the taliban.
Justice is not a value in itself but is a instrument through which those values are applied. Just as a knife can be either a surgical instrument or a murder weapon to behead an infidel.
To have a true dialog we would need to have shared values. Our big conflict with these people is one of our highest values is individual freedom and the right to worship as each person sees fit. That's not even on their list.
2006-07-27 00:03:56 · answer #2 · answered by Roadkill 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is scarey how much the Bush administration is like the taliban, always trying to implement religious restrictions into the law (homosexual restrictions, abortion, etc). It is true that our founding fathers were Christian and religious men but if they wanted to try to enforce religious beliefs, the 10 commandments would be part of the constitution.
The founding fathers left room for religious expression but not for religious oppression. The only reason the Bush administration is against recognizing gay marraige is because of biblical scripture. Why do they pick this particular scripture to enforce? Fornication is condemned far more often than homosexuality but they do not make fornication illegal or reduce the status of citizenship because of it.
How is that different from the discrimination the taliban enforces? They quote the holy book of their land as well.
2006-07-27 00:01:23 · answer #3 · answered by Kristonia 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your argument that we execute criminals too, is just dumb.
Think of the reasons USA might execute, and how often is it done? I mean if you want to make comparisons, you choose the wrong topics. If you want to compare taliban to the nazis, then you have a point.
2006-07-26 23:58:43 · answer #4 · answered by admyr75 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Equality among men means women too. Talilban are savages in that respect.
2006-07-26 23:54:25 · answer #5 · answered by TruthIsRelative 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Let me know when we start executing girls for going to school.
2006-07-26 23:54:57 · answer #6 · answered by michinoku2001 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
theyr'e both the same, the latter is disguised as a democracy..
2006-07-26 23:56:39 · answer #7 · answered by Mrs. Curious 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
talibanies are a terrible terrorist. they are bad nasty perverted terrorist. don't listen to them. they are mentally ill and perverted. taliban no no no no. bad bad bad.
2006-07-26 23:56:06 · answer #8 · answered by ricky 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋