From: John Hudson (john@tiro.ca)
Date: Fri Dec 21 2007 - 17:32:37 CST
James Kass wrote:
> In the "open marketplace of ideas", concepts which are truly alien
> to our own viewpoints should be tolerated, else the marketplace
> is not open. It is hoped that, when presented with all possible
> choices, most people will be able to discern between that which
> is valid and that which is claptrap.
I think there is a wide gap between objection to censorship, i.e. to the suppression of
opposing viewpoints or objectionable ideas, and the kind of relativism promoted by the
organisation to which Ed brought our attention. Ideas should be engaged with critically
and exposed to reason, not least because very large numbers of people demonstrate every
day that they are not, in fact, capable of discerning by themselves what is claptrap. For
this critical engagement to happen neither censorship nor relativism are welcome: one
closes the marketplace and the other devalues it.
JH
-- Tiro Typeworks www.tiro.com Gulf Islands, BC tiro@tiro.com At the sunset of our days on earth, at the moment of death, we will be evaluated on the basis of our similarity or otherwise with the Baby who is to be born in the poor grotto of Bethlehem, since it is He who is the standard of measurement which God has given to humanity. -- Benedict XVI
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