Might makes Right! ....or not?

[BeBMan]

Well, seeing this in several threads - do you think it is true? And why?

Oh, and before we start - could one enlighten me about the exact meaning of this line, because you can translate it in several ways into German (and I often notice that certain expressions have a different meaning in different languages).

In German "right" can be translated as

a) noun: "Recht" = the "law" generally
b) noun: "Recht" = a specific right or set of rights (like human rights)
c) adjective: "richtig" = means something is right or correct (here I assume it is used as morally right)

So does the line mean in English
a) might makes (the law)
b) might defines certain rights
c) might makes everything to be ok, because (morally) right?

Or all three together, or the first two (which are quite similar, but IMO not totally the same)

[Ecthy]

maybe it shouldn't, but practically yes.

and I must admit I've given up all resistance to it in the past months.

[Whaleboy]

Might makes Right!

Could someone possibly explain why this idea has any merit whatsoever?

[yavoon]

honestly who is going to say that having a larger gun is the basis for ur moral correctness? kind of a poor question don't u think.

might as well ask "do u believe in good parenting."

[Imran Siddiqui]

It basically means that the powerful make law. The ones in power decide how things are done. Also the powerful aren't usually challenged. Their justifications are usually accepted.

So, it a) and c).

--

And yes, I totally believe it.

[Dauphin]

Re: Might makes Right! ....or not?

Originally posted by BeBro
So does the line mean in English
a) might makes (the law)
b) might defines certain rights
c) might makes everything to be ok, because (morally) right?

Or all three together, or the first two (which are quite similar, but IMO not totally the same)

All 3 to some extent.

Might makes right means (to me at least) that the illegality or immorality of an action can be ignored because there is no-one who can successfully challenge such behaviour.

[Gangerolf]

the victors write the history books

[Gangerolf]

dhtrhtddye

[Imran Siddiqui]

Could someone possibly explain why this idea has any merit whatsoever?

Because it is how society has existed for centuries upon centuries?

[Whaleboy]

Whether it does and whether it should are completely different things. I stick with shoulds because thats the way that progress can be made. "Does's" are for pragmatic cowards! :doitnow! jk

Therefore, I dont like the idea that power, law, justifications and action is taken by one powerful nation or body, simply because it is so. It can have all the power in the world, but it is still as subjective as the rest of us, therefore it is illogical for it to force its own view on us, because ours are as valid as theirs, indeed, theirs are necessarily invalid when dealing with others. Yes I'm a moral and cultural relativist.

Imran: Why do you believe it?

Just because realistically, one cant change it, is no basis for supporting it. If everyone had that attitude, can you imagine how much this planet would suck?

[yavoon]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui

Could someone possibly explain why this idea has any merit whatsoever?

Because it is how society has existed for centuries upon centuries?

the observable fact that people who win makeup the law isn't all that fascinating. and neither is the morality of "does a bigger gun constitute your basis for being moral." so since u have two pretty benign things why ask?

unless of course there is someone here who would like to bring up an argument why someone's morality does come from the size of their gun.

[Az]

I don't think so.


But neither do I think that a moral relativist has got something to complain about.

[Whaleboy]

Because it is how society has existed for centuries upon centuries?

So has rape and murder, just because its human nature, the politics of the schoolyard become no more rational, logical, or healthy.

[Lord Merciless]

Originally posted by elijah




Could someone possibly explain why this idea has any merit whatsoever?

Because the reality and the history says so. It's an extension of evolution's survival of the fittest on human societies.

[Az]