Friday, July 2, 2010
Leslie Green and the will to power
Thank you Michael P. for pointing us to Leslie Green's disagreement with Pope Benedict's assertion that we are in danger of "a dictatorship of relativism." My quick read of Green seems to confirm Benedict's thesis. Is it fair to say that Green disagrees with Benedict for two reasons? One, there is danger from non-relativist countries, particularly Muslim countries. And, two, the west isn't relatavist because it imposes democratically arrived at moral norms.
Green's world seems to center on will to power. In some nations God's will as interpreted by the powerful shape the moral norms of the country. Aware of this, Benedict asks, does reason have a place alongside faith. In other nation's (the West), Green asserts that the will of a majority [or, in the case of the U.S., often the majority of the Committee of Nine] establish the moral norms. Does reason supply any criteria? Can the majority ever reach an immoral conclusion? If not, whover has the power to create or manipulate a majority of the populace (or a majority of the Committee of Nine), sets the moral standard. That sounds pretty relativistic to me. What am I missing Michael P.?
https://mirrorofjustice.blogs.com/mirrorofjustice/2010/07/leslie-green-and-the-will-to-power.html