Re: THEORY: Are commands to believe infelicitous?

On 6/28/05, Joseph B. <darkmoonman@...> wrote:
> >But it took me years and years of meditation etc. to learn
> >that. I would agree that 99.9% of people I've talked to
> >experience those things as core ball-grippers - that is,
> >things that happen *to* them whether they will it or not, and
> >thus that they cannot ethically be ordered to change.
>
> Agreed. But then many live an unconsidered/uncomtemplated life. :: shrug ::
> We all have our paths.
*laugh* Indeed we do. Hail Eris! ;-)

I should add another clause, actually... I don't think it's ethical in
*either* case.

In the case of most people, because you shouldn't ask them what
they're not capable of. (You could potentially ask them to develop
that capability, though...)

In the case of people with "root access" to themselves (are my geek
roots showing?)... it's also unethical, because it's simply too much
to ask.

You can ask someone to change their behavior, but to change core
elements like thought processes is overstepping the bounds of what can
reasonably be requested short of an extreme imbalance of power or
obligation. I wouldn't be opposed to a persuasive argument, though -
just to command.

 - Sai

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