04-11-2015, 02:45 AM
[quote]Originally posted by rainyjim
It's called a social compact
Basically it means that we follow the rules of society even if we don't agree with all of them or all the time.
And again, the majority have already decided that A. Telescopes on Mauna Kea are OK and B. TMT is good to go.
While I agree that social contract theory helps explain how we agree to coexist, your explanation is a little over simplified IMHO. Protest movements draw on philisophies that emphasize the individual over the state, especially when matters of priciple or conscience are involved. This tradition stems mainly from Locke and Rousseau and provided the philosophical basis for the French and American revolutions, which tore up the social contract of the time and rewrote it with an emphsis on protecting personal liberty.
This tradition was carried forward and enhanced by Thoreau in his essay Civil Disobedience and his actions against slavery. If you haven't read it, I highly recommend it as it forms the basis for understanding many of the successful protest movements such as ending slavery, segregation, and various wars, to promoting civil rights, environmentalism, and independence, such as in India and South Africa. This historical thread of change based on personal conscience aligns with the actions seen up on Mauna Kea.
http://thoreau.eserver.org/civil.html
As for the majority deciding, was there a vote taken? I'm surprised there has not even been a poll - Ige and OHA have to be running the numbers to determine how best to represent their constituents.
It's called a social compact
Basically it means that we follow the rules of society even if we don't agree with all of them or all the time.
And again, the majority have already decided that A. Telescopes on Mauna Kea are OK and B. TMT is good to go.
While I agree that social contract theory helps explain how we agree to coexist, your explanation is a little over simplified IMHO. Protest movements draw on philisophies that emphasize the individual over the state, especially when matters of priciple or conscience are involved. This tradition stems mainly from Locke and Rousseau and provided the philosophical basis for the French and American revolutions, which tore up the social contract of the time and rewrote it with an emphsis on protecting personal liberty.
This tradition was carried forward and enhanced by Thoreau in his essay Civil Disobedience and his actions against slavery. If you haven't read it, I highly recommend it as it forms the basis for understanding many of the successful protest movements such as ending slavery, segregation, and various wars, to promoting civil rights, environmentalism, and independence, such as in India and South Africa. This historical thread of change based on personal conscience aligns with the actions seen up on Mauna Kea.
http://thoreau.eserver.org/civil.html
As for the majority deciding, was there a vote taken? I'm surprised there has not even been a poll - Ige and OHA have to be running the numbers to determine how best to represent their constituents.