Well, this is verging on a philosophical theory discussion, but I think that is simply incorrect relative to the terminology I was trying to introduce.
A meta-ethical issue would be one that has *no* ethical content at all. It has to do with setting up a context for the working out of *all possible* ethical disputes, or the discussion of all possible ethical issues, without regard to any particular issue.
Some might argue to good effect that in fact any meta-ethical proposal is laden with values, and thus is in fact ethically loaded.
But I think it is fairly clear that race relations is a kind of ethical issue not a kind of meta-ethical issue. It has to do with specific values, not processes which provide a context for conflicting values.
Reasonable people can disagree as to which ethical issue, or which set of values, trump others. But that is exactly why it is important for them to enter into a meta-ethical social contract...so they don't tear each other apart working out ethical differences.
Examples (keeping in mind that no example can fully contain a concept or principle):
Republicans vrs Democrats...huge disagreements regarding values and thus ethics...but there is the meta-ethical social contract of democracy which is supposed to stop us from shooting each other. ("Government funding of abortion is wrong because abortion is wrong." vrs "Government is obliged to meet all the medical needs of its poorest people without intruding into their personal lives." All but a few fanatics are willing to decide this via the ballot box).
The US vrs Al-Quida...there are not only huge disagreements as to values and ethics, but the intolerance of Al-Quida is such that no meta-ethical social contract is possible. This dispute, then, is not worked out via discussion, voting, or anything else short of killing each other.
I am suggesting that brothel owners and clients be more like the former and less like the latter in dealing with ethical disputes. i.e. Even though we may have huge differences of opinion regarding values or ethical issues, we agree there are some lines we just won't cross to "win".
A meta-ethical issue would be one that has *no* ethical content at all. It has to do with setting up a context for the working out of *all possible* ethical disputes, or the discussion of all possible ethical issues, without regard to any particular issue.
Some might argue to good effect that in fact any meta-ethical proposal is laden with values, and thus is in fact ethically loaded.
But I think it is fairly clear that race relations is a kind of ethical issue not a kind of meta-ethical issue. It has to do with specific values, not processes which provide a context for conflicting values.
Reasonable people can disagree as to which ethical issue, or which set of values, trump others. But that is exactly why it is important for them to enter into a meta-ethical social contract...so they don't tear each other apart working out ethical differences.
Examples (keeping in mind that no example can fully contain a concept or principle):
Republicans vrs Democrats...huge disagreements regarding values and thus ethics...but there is the meta-ethical social contract of democracy which is supposed to stop us from shooting each other. ("Government funding of abortion is wrong because abortion is wrong." vrs "Government is obliged to meet all the medical needs of its poorest people without intruding into their personal lives." All but a few fanatics are willing to decide this via the ballot box).
The US vrs Al-Quida...there are not only huge disagreements as to values and ethics, but the intolerance of Al-Quida is such that no meta-ethical social contract is possible. This dispute, then, is not worked out via discussion, voting, or anything else short of killing each other.
I am suggesting that brothel owners and clients be more like the former and less like the latter in dealing with ethical disputes. i.e. Even though we may have huge differences of opinion regarding values or ethical issues, we agree there are some lines we just won't cross to "win".
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