Date Posted:11:15 Author: Eponymous-4Dec01 Subject: On Respecting Alternate Paths and Different Opinions In reply to:
Anonymous-3Dec01
's message, "Re: Babaji's band" on 11:11
I'm not sure why the default position is that one should automatically respect the path (or opinion) taken up by other people; "because it's my path" is surely not an adequate ground to demand respect for an asserted position.
It seems to me, rather, that what is worthy of respect is a set of reasons that cohere with one another and with the world, and that seem to reasonably motivate the belief. Short of that, an opinion is perhaps entitled to toleration [n.1], but not "respect."
But of course, that's just my opinion.
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NOTES
1. As long as the path is innocuous, of course; the path of the bigot or of the murderer probably wouldn't qualify for toleration.
