Simon Paynton

Reg the Fronkey Farmer wrote:
What is Moral Relativism?

As opposed to being a moral realist.  Moral realists think you can get an “ought” from an “is”, philosophically.  Unfortunately, despite whole libraries being written in the attempt, they have so far failed, because it’s impossible.  Philosophy can’t deliver an ought – only living beings ca…[Read more]

Unseen wrote:
“Solidarity” is a political term and it’s bizarre to talk about solidarity outside the human species. In nature, if anything, the females accept their role and don’t feel a need to conspire against males. Such would involve a degree of intent that would be absurd to apply to the lower species.

Have you read “Chimpanzee Politic…[Read more]

Autumn wrote:
War and egalitarianism are largely antithetical absent some pretty desperate conditions which don’t need to exist in this era.

I think that’s a matter of opinion.  The circumstances that gave rise to egalitarianism in our past (personal autonomy, communal sharing, etc.) are antithetical to the circumstances that allowed pa…[Read more]

Unseen wrote:
3) Dominance of a society by men, or the values that uphold such dominance. It is also a loaded word. It’s used pejoratively as well.

That’s the sense I’m using it in.  I believe it comes from nature: in great apes, males compete with each other to control and dominate females so that they can reproduce.  This is opposed by fem…[Read more]

_Robert_ wrote:
Thats the theory, but when the shit really hits the fan, women will look to their men for protection.

That’s an interesting question.  Male protection of women is part of the classical model of patriarchy – of the great ape male, competing with other great ape males to control and protect “his” females in his harem.

But men are…[Read more]

Simon Paynton wrote:
That said, there’s nothing to say that men have to be soft and weak, in order to be non-patriarchal.

Egalitarianism doesn’t imply male emasculation.

_Robert_ wrote:
I would say the West is a more “feminine” culture today than tougher times. Even today in the Mid-East and African regions it’s not something to talk about if you value your health.

I think this gets back to where the patriarchy – the ideal of the “manly male” – is weak, and where it’s strong, and why.  Islam used to be tolera…[Read more]

Unseen wrote:
there’s an important distinction

Sexuality-non-conformance – gender-non-conformance.  They’re very similar.

Autumn wrote:
A look of realization dawns on his face. “Ah! A common confusion. ‘Mein Freund’ is how we say my boyfriend. If you want to say your friend, you should say “ein Freund.”

Yes, try saying “I am hot” to a French person.

Unseen wrote:
Don’t lump gays and trans people together unless you want to include every other minority who feel left behind, laughed at, excluded with them.

They’re discriminated against on the basis of sexuality and gender preference.  Those are similar enough to lump them in together.  Also, as @autumn says, they overlap quite heavily.