3 ms·
Isn't that the point though? The implied meaning of Chesterton's fence is simply: Understand the root motivation that belies a rule/norm/etc before you contest
by esyir 5y ago
Isn't that the point though? The implied meaning of Chesterton's fence is simply: Understand the root motivation that belies a rule/norm/etc before you contest it.
- UncleMeat 5y agoA big problem is that people don't agree on the root motivation. I believe that policies against women being religious leaders is based in historical misogyny. But if you go ask people in these organizations, they'll say that women are fundamentally less capable of leading religious groups and that God made this rule for a reason. What do you do then? I'm pretty darn sure that the stated reason is not actually true and bigots rarely say "the reason we are oppressing this group is because we hate them" but instead make up rationalizations for their policies. A bias towards keeping social systems and policies as long as there appears to be a justification for it enables oppressive systems to defend themselves more effectively.
- viro 5y ago> they'll say that women are fundamentally less capable of leading religious groups and that God made this rule for a reason Thats kinda of rather easily pointed out as misogyny tho. What makes them less capable?
- esyir 5y agoI don't see how that's an issue. You can take their argument at face value, then deconstruct it and refute piecemeal. Rationalisations generally fall apart under further scrutiny, and if they don't, then maybe they aren't just rationalisions after all.