Humans should willingly restrain their conduct to some sort of moral belief that is ideally along like the lines of the Golden Rule, quoted in the Bible as "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.” Even when the Golden Rule is taken away from its religious context, it is a valuable standard; the idea that individuals should behave towards others in a particular manner only if they are willing to accept reciprocal behavior.
In the Thucydides excerpt, the Athenians proclaim “Right and wrong come into play only between people whose power is equal.” The lesser Melians respond, saying, “You Athenians should want to protect this custom [acknowledging what is fair and right] too. You’ll need it if you’re ever defeated.” The Melians have acknowledged an important factor in society; the individual or group holding power is continuously changing. Yes, some groups are dominant for decades or centuries, but there is not one group that has dominated another group infinitely. The Athenians have no way of ensuring that they will always be the most powerful. If the Athenians abuse their subjects and many years later, they are subject to the abuse of the new power, they have no protection because they deserve the same treatment that they gave.
Furthermore, the definition of power is continuously changing as well as who holds the power. It’s difficult to define a “naïve view of fairness” without defining a “naïve view of power.” One group might dominate politically, but another group could dominate in athletics and yet another in academics.
As Americans, we can superficially call ourselves the strongest and most powerful nation on Earth. However, many Americans who hold this power of being well educated, well exposed, and readily connected to the world do not abuse this power and certainly believe that the United States has a responsibility to restrain itself in subjecting lesser nations to abuse. I think many Americans would state that the American government, although arguably the most powerful, lacks the right to do whatever they please.
I think you're right. It's obvious that power doesn't automatically translate into blind abuse of it. Right isn't defined just by who is the most powerful; right is defined at least partially by values. The only instance in which "might makes right" the way that that the bully who punches the littler kid and takes his lunch money without repercussions is "right" is when the people in power don't really care about what they personally feel is right at all.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you and support what you said about being Americas. We think it is all about us yet we do have the "right" since we are educated and wealthy. In some ways though, I think our government THINKS it can do what it wants but it will undergo much criticism for its actions. I like how you referred to the Golden Rule also since it has been around for many years and is taught in schools around the country.
ReplyDeleteI think the Golden Rule is probably the only rule that sums up all moral standards people should live by. The Athenians directly refuse to think in terms of people doing the same to them. But putting yourself in the shoes of the people you are affecting is always an effective method of finding out if it's 'right.'
ReplyDeleteThe Golden Rule does have a place in American culture. As Americans we frequently do not follow this law with our policies, i.e. we do things to other groups or countries that we know we wouldn't enjoy ourselves.
I fully agree with your statement of the definition of power is always changing. What meant power to the Athenians is different to the definition of powers in modern time. Even now people view power differently. In addition Although the USA has a lot of power it also has over stepped its boundaries and has made situations worse in some countries such a iraq and vietnam
ReplyDeleteNo one in this post has addressed the question: isn't the argument to "do unto others" the argument of the weak? Of course they want the strong to accept it, it's their only chance to lessen what the powerful can do to them. However, how is this view not extremely naive?
ReplyDelete"Doing unto others" SOUNDS great until some very powerful entity comes along who isn't so nice and could care less about others (would anyone doubt that such groups exist?). Isn't this why it is good to use your power to dominate rather than be fair?
The Anthenian point needs to be considered: "we act...knowing that you, having our power, would do the same." Are they wrong about this? As long as there are other powerful entities out there, you risk getting clubbed by them. Are you willing to bet your whole way of life hoping when someone very powerful knocks on your door that they'll listen when you plead, "Do unto others!" Or, might it be better to never put yourself in that position? Isn't this why the Athenians believed instead that you should "Do unto others whatever you're capable of doing (before you're no longer capable of doing it)"?