The purpose of Law

[Epimethean]

Well, it's very much a case of perception, isn't it? When your perception is that there is sufficient threat to warrant retaliation, and when dire consequences ensue, you have become the law unto yourself. We would all be so in certain circumstances. Some simply take this to its natural end.

[Rwandrall]

Perception is subjective, and also it is hard to prove since it is in the mind: everything becomes permissible. That is why in law there is something called the "reasonable man test". Without that test, anyone can do anything and say that in their minds, it was completely logical to do so. To take it to the extreme, some people suffer from terrible paranoïa that makes them dangerous because they perceive everything as a threat, does that mean it is their right to act in consequence of those fears ? This would make for a completely broken society.

In a society where we are all equal, there needs to be an objective standard to establish what is or is not permitted.

[Epimethean]

Are you advocating a woman letting a man rape her rather than blow his head off if given the opportunity in a circumstance when police are not available?

[Napoléon]

It is all a formality and that is all. They'd do it to you without the laws too.

No, they would not. Under your line of thinking everyone is the same, everyone behaves the same, no matter the laws. Problem is, reality disagrees with you. In Saudi Arabia, women cannot drive. Well under your line of thinking they would drive all the time anyways...well they don't.

Laws have another purpose: changing the norms. This is why every state legalizing gay marriage is a big deal: laws are a reflection of the moral principles of the country, and both influence each other.

Where did I post the post you quoted? I can't remember posting it nor the context it was posted :S

[Epimethean]

Lately, women HAVE taken to driving in Saudi! It's all the rage, pun intended.

[Anymouse]

Anarchy is government: the 'lucky' will always rule. Government cannot be escaped. Even when one is the government: how can they escape themselves?

Like "a-"=no and "theist"=God/dess belief, "an-"=no, not "archy"=form of government. A belief in Utopia. Fits in with what the atheists call belief in Santa Claus or unicorns.

(Actually, there might be some credibility for the Invisible Pink Unicorn, as she has all the same qualities as the Christian three-god-in-one package (except for that).
James

[Rwandrall]

Where did I post the post you quoted? I can't remember posting it nor the context it was posted :S

Ah sorry it was Aerzia's post, i failed on the quoting >.<

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Are you advocating a woman letting a man rape her rather than blow his head off if given the opportunity in a circumstance when police are not available?

Never did i state that anywhere, or even imply it. Which of my statements do you take that from ?

[Epimethean]

Post 108

Reasonable personhood is subjective.

[Rwandrall]

Post 108

Reasonable personhood is subjective.

I talked about the "reasonable man" test in that post. That if it is held that a reasonable person would kill in self-defense against rape (which sounds logical, or at least understandable), then it should be acceptable. Nowhere did i say there should be no self-defense actions. Just that there needs to be an objective limit to it.

The legal process has established what a reasonable man is, and that's the basis judges use to determine what is or is not reasonable. When you take case after case after case, you end up with an average of what is expected of people under certain circumstances, and using those numerous previous incidents you can determine whether an act is objectively reasonable or not.

[Epimethean]

I agree with you in principle, but the issue with such genericizing is the loss of some of the value of the individual. I tend to dwell within the fringes, but there are aspects of me that, were it not for privacy, would call that generic judgment down upon me. I am simply arguing for the value of anarchist thinking here, not espousing to follow it.