3 ms·
> Nobody cares about freedom of the press because they are well paid and comfortable that's because freedom of press and similar rights are a uniquely western
by qwtel 7y ago
> Nobody cares about freedom of the press because they are well paid and comfortable
that's because freedom of press and similar rights are a uniquely western phenomenon that are --- despite what droves of its proponents will tell you --- derived from christian values that didn't and don't exist anywhere else.
Many in the broader region don't care about freedom of press, while also being poorly paid and uncomfortable. No placation of masses needed.
- vorpalhex 7y ago> derived from christian values This is not quite correct. Christian values would be a strict theocracy with no freedom of the press. Liberal values descend from a robust view of agency, eg humanism which is more or less incompatible with strict interpretations of Christianity. Compatible with deism though.
- diveanon 7y agoYou are confusing catholicism with the teachings of christ. Two very different messages. Love your neighbor and judge others as you would judge yourself.
- vorpalhex 7y agoNo, I'm quoting directly from several hundred if not thousands of years of Jewish teachings which make up over half the bible. Christ mentioned very little on political structures, he certainly didn't vouch for democracy.
- flomble 7y ago> freedom of press and similar rights are a uniquely western phenomenon that are ... derived from christian values This is incorrect. Europe is quite unique in that since the advent of Christianity there has always existed a church separate from the state acting as a counterbalance thereto, and offering an alternative foundation of moral authority. Despite this, brutal suppression of all dissent and criticism of the political structure was almost always supported by the Church, which generally allied itself with dominant regimes (i.e. feudal rulers). It wasn't until the flurry of neoclassicist-inspired philosophising of the Enlightenment and the emergence of monied elites in a position to pressure the state to grant them rights that said rights were slowly granted. They often couched their arguments in terms of Christian doctrine, but this is just the incidental result of the dominance of the Christian religion in society at that time.
- raxxorrax 7y agoTo be fair that was the Roman Catholic church, which also procecuted the former Christian communities all over Europe. It is mostly this consolidated form that supported suppression.
- foldr 7y ago> They often couched their arguments in terms of Christian doctrine, but this is just the incidental result of the dominance of the Christian religion in society at that time. I wouldn't say that it's entirely incidental. Christianity is compatible with individualism in a way that some other religions are not.