News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

A comment on Rumble Turns Off Access in Brazil Because of Government's Censorship Demands. Parent comment

Re:Rumble Turns Off Access in Brazil Because of Government's... by logicchains on Saturday December 23, 2023 @02:39PM (#38747395)
"Natural right" means a right with a sound fundamental philosophical justification behind it, it doesn't mean "natural" in the sense of "something people do naturally". People by nature are often savages; learning to respect the rights of other people, and not just see them as tools for us to impose our own will upon, is part of the challenge of human moral development.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Rumble Turns Off Access in Brazil Because of Government's... by atticora on Saturday December 23, 2023 @03:13PM (#38747732)
I'm in favor of human moral development through means such as free speech. But "a sound fundamental philosophical justification" doesn't appear to have any meaning, or rather can mean anything to anyone. It can envelop humanity's destruction as easily as its flourishing, depending on where your identity lies.

I'd like to be able to deploy "natural" in defense of free speech, but I've found no substance to it. No premise beyond a personal value judgement, which I happen to share. So I default to appeals to utility.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Rumble Turns Off Access in Brazil Because of Government's... by logicchains on Sunday December 24, 2023 @03:47AM (#38752192)
>. But "a sound fundamental philosophical justification" doesn't appear to have any meanin

You're saying the entirety of moral philosophy has no meaning so people should just do whatever they feels like, that's a pretty barbaric position.

>So I default to appeals to utility

Utility also relies on a philosophical justification; if you throw out all philosophy, you also throw out utilitarianism.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_rights_and_legal_right...

[ Parent | on HN ]