International law, also known as Public International Law and The Law of Nations, is the basis of human civilization. It is the set of rules, norms, and standards that states and other actors feel obligated to obey in their mutual relations and generally do obey.
The keyword here is "obey." It refers to the behavior of states that should be based on international treaties, Customary international law, and general judiciary principles as accepted by civilized states.
If you ignore this basic point of view, you are introducing the end of civilization and opening the doors to all kinds of atrocities like war, genocide, and massive destruction.
I don't want to sound too pessimistic, but if you look at the current leading world leaders some basic rules of civilization are trampled underfoot. Putin invaded a sovereign country without cause.
The newly elected president of the US claims without cause territory of a sovereign country concerning the Panama Channel. He just regards the sovereign people of Greenland as an object for sale and suggests adding a sovereign country, Canada, to the US.
President Xi does the same with originally sovereign countries and peoples and cultures like Tibet and Uighurs. There is no reasonable justification for all these actions in International Law. There is only the irrationality of the use of power.
And then there is that huge weak point in all of this: International law differs from state-based domestic legal systems in that it operates largely through consent since there is no universally accepted authority to enforce it upon sovereign states.
States and non-state actors may choose not to abide by international law, and even to breach a treaty, and such violations, particularly of peremptory norms, only lead to disapproval by others and in some cases coercive action including diplomacy and economic sanctions.
In the worst case, it will lead to war and thence to the end of civilization among nations. In this case, you only need to think of the consequences of a nuclear threat and possible devastation.
This means that we have to rethink the role (elected) leaders of a country should fulfill. Looking at the present situation there is a tendency that according to their people,
they especially should safeguard the special interests of some party or group, sometimes even at the expense of others such as asylum seekers, immigrants, transgender, people of color, and so on.
This creates not a better world for everyone, but often only a polarized world. So, what is missing here in the picture?
Let me begin with formulating some theses, I'll use as premises of my reasoning. The first one: Homo sapiens is a member of the animal kingdom.
Two: As such, he belongs to the category of social animals. This means that he organizes himself in coherent groups with a leader.
Three it is the leader's task and responsibility to protect and guarantee the group's survival and well-being.
This morning I read in my newspaper something that fits, that fits very well with this approach. It was in an article about the funeral of Jimmy Carter. Let me quote:
-QUOTE- However his political legacy is interpreted, there is one thing everyone agrees on. The peanut farmer who became president was modest, helpful, even humble, and open about his weaknesses.
He was an exceptional president who earned respect for how he lived his life and the causes he championed: peace and justice.
Without making a saint of him, Carter can be an inspiration. The world needs a voice like his in this world of war, division, and climate change. -END QUOTE-
That is where I want to arrive at: to show you that leaders should not be self-centered, cunning politicians who only want to please their followers, but that they more importantly have to be a moral example for all whom they lead.
That this is feasible, possible, and how, we'll discuss in the next lecture.
Thank you for your attention....
Main Sources:
MacMillan The Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2nd edition
TABLE OF CONTENT -----------------------------------------------------------------
1 - 100 Philosophers 9 May 2009 Start of
2 - 25+ Women Philosophers 10 May 2009 this blog
3 - 25 Adventures in Thinking 10 May 2009
4 - Modern Theories of Ethics 29 Oct 2009
5 - The Ideal State 24 Febr 2010 / 234
6 - The Mystery of the Brain 3 Sept 2010 / 266
7 - The Utopia of the Free Market 16 Febr 2012 / 383
8. - The Aftermath of Neo-liberalism 5 Sept 2012 / 413
9. - The Art Not to Be an Egoist 6 Nov 2012 / 426
10 - Non-Western Philosophy 29 May 2013 / 477
11 - Why Science is Right 2 Sept 2014 / 534
12 - A Philosopher looks at Atheism 1 Jan 2015 / 557
13 - EVIL, a philosophical investigation 17 Apr 2015 / 580
14 - Existentialism and Free Will 2 Sept 2015 / 586
15 - Spinoza 2 Sept 2016 / 615
16 - The Meaning of Life 13 Febr 2017 / 637
17 - In Search of my Self 6 Sept 2017 / 670
18 - The 20th Century Revisited 3 Apr 2018 / 706
19 - The Pessimist 11 Jan 2020 / 819
20 - The Optimist 9 Febr 2020 / 824
21 - Awakening from a Neoliberal Dream 8 Oct 2020 / 872
22 - A World Full of Patterns 1 Apr 2021 / 912
23 - The Concept of Freedom 8 Jan 2022 / 965
24 - Materialism 7 Sept 2022 / 1011
25 - Historical Materialism 5 Oct 2023 / 1088
26 - The Bonobo and the Atheist 9 Jan 2024 / 1102
27 - Artificial Intelligence 9 Feb 2024 / 1108
28 - Why Am I Here 6 Sept 2024 / 1139
[13:16] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): Thank you Herman
[13:16] Max Chatnoir: Thank you, Herman!
[13:17] Ϯinkühr Vel (velika47): yes thanks that was good
[13:17] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:17] herman Bergson: rhank you :-)
[13:18] bergfrau Apfelbaum: at: "that leaders should not be egocentric, cunning politicians who just..." that's what we all want, worldwide. That is why i still believe in the good in people :-)
[13:18] Max Chatnoir: I'm hoping that American congressmen can be convinced that they should screw their courage to the sticking place and make good decisions!
[13:18] herman Bergson: In fact, I believe that man can change...
[13:19] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): In the case of Trump he does not even please his followers, He only became president to please and care for himself
[13:19] herman Bergson: Yes Bergie and in the next lecture I might give you some hope :-)
[13:19] Max Chatnoir: yay
[13:20] bergfrau Apfelbaum: *☼☆☼* Juhu *☼☆☼*
[13:20] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hope is around the corder HOPEfully
[13:20] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): corner
[13:20] herman Bergson: The point is, Bejiita, that leaders should be an example for their people
[13:20] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): exactly
[13:20] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and with T its the other way around
[13:21] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): with P too Bejiita
[13:21] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and many other eaders also
[13:21] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): yes and also Xi and Kim Yong
[13:21] herman Bergson: We are far from that these days, because homo sapiens is only defined as homo economicus...not as a homo sapiens (wise)
[13:21] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): only care about themself if they so need to kill the entire worlds population
[13:21] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): Homo stupiditus
[13:21] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): worrying development
[13:21] Max Chatnoir: I have the notion that all of the people I see running the stop signs every single time I drive six miles to church are adopting the "you can't tell me what to do" example.
[13:21] Max Chatnoir: Oh, I'm sorry, Bergie!
[13:22] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): lol
[13:22] bergfrau Apfelbaum: in the past, priests were also role models
[13:22] Max Chatnoir: I did not mean to do that!
[13:22] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): lol
[13:22] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:22] bergfrau Apfelbaum: (( no problem Max :-) that keeps me young ))
[13:22] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:22] herman Bergson: Max, I have the impression that a lot of Americans really hate their government and authorities and rules and laws
[13:23] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): laws are there to be broken
[13:23] herman Bergson: Yes Bergie, in the past they were.... :-)
[13:24] herman Bergson: I hope you are joking Beertje :-)
[13:24] bergfrau Apfelbaum: grins
[13:24] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): of course, you know me
[13:24] Max Chatnoir: But maybe by respectful review and discussion not just anarchy.
[13:24] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aha
[13:25] herman Bergson: Secularization is an important cause of the present situation.....
[13:25] Max Chatnoir: You mean we have lost the ultimate alpha male?
[13:25] herman Bergson: In terms of norms and standards we are in a grey zone now....and have to find our way
[13:26] herman Bergson: NO, not the ultimate alpha male....sounds too much as dictator
[13:26] herman Bergson: Carter wasn't an alpha male
[13:27] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): we have too many dictators alreay in the world though
[13:27] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): needs to change
[13:27] bergfrau Apfelbaum: Has there ever been an ultimate alpha male?
[13:27] Ϯinkühr Vel (velika47): Gehgis Khan
[13:27] Max Chatnoir: Well, I was in a discussion once, in a church group, about morality. A man said that if morality was not in fact handed down from a heavenly father, then why should he be moral?
[13:28] herman Bergson: THAT is typical, Max.....
[13:28] bergfrau Apfelbaum: smile
[13:28] herman Bergson: Not a smart remark.....
[13:28] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ssss
[13:28] Max Chatnoir: I was thinking about the idea of God a an ultimate alpha male. Do you have to have somebody MAKE you behave? Can you not agree to it as a matter of social respect?
[13:28] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): moral = dont be evil
[13:28] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): that's what it means to me that word
[13:29] herman Bergson: Such a man denies that he is a social animal, that his actions, whatever they are, affect other people and that he will be held accountable
[13:29] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): dont harm others
[13:29] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): or the nature
[13:29] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): or in short, dont be destructive
[13:29] herman Bergson: Ohh...I forgot to mention my fourth thesis :-)
[13:29] Max Chatnoir: Mention!
[13:29] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): oh dear!
[13:30] herman Bergson: FOUR: All ideas in this world are the product of the human brain only
[13:30] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): some have rooms to rent in their scul
[13:30] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): skul
[13:30] Ϯinkühr Vel (velika47): lol
[13:30] herman Bergson: lol
[13:31] Max Chatnoir: Bergie what an interesting phrase!
[13:31] herman Bergson: nice one Beertje
[13:31] Max Chatnoir: Sorry, Beertje!
[13:31] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): smiles
[13:31] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aaaa yes!
[13:31] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): that's for sure
[13:31] Ϯinkühr Vel (velika47): I dont know some idea we steal from nature. like flight. sonar /radar
[13:31] herman Bergson: een kop als en kraakpand...:-)))
[13:31] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): hhahhahah ja
[13:31] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): we do indeed
[13:31] Max Chatnoir: Good point, Vel!
[13:31] herman Bergson: sorry...Dutch intermezzo :-)
[13:31] bergfrau Apfelbaum: lol Beertje
[13:31] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): grins
[13:32] Max Chatnoir: But originating with human observation?
[13:33] herman Bergson: Yes Vel...we come to the conclusion by observation: Let's try that too
[13:33] herman Bergson: That is our idea...a bird just flies
[13:34] herman Bergson: That is how we are from infancy....I WANT THAT TOO :-)
[13:34] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but why does it fly?
[13:34] herman Bergson: To move from A to B Bejiita :-)
[13:34] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): because they get tired from walking
[13:34] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): true but how CAN it fly
[13:34] herman Bergson: that too :-)
[13:34] bergfrau Apfelbaum: because he has such short feet=?
[13:35] Max Chatnoir: And that was the intriguing question....how do birds do that?
[13:35] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and like i saw recently, the airplane wing is indeed a copy if the birds wing, same principle of curved surfaces
[13:35] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): it's like swimming in the air
[13:35] herman Bergson: that is what engineers already have figured out long ago
[13:35] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): nature is the best inventor indeed
[13:36] The region you are in now is about to restart. If you stay in this region you will be logged out.
[13:36] Max Chatnoir: It is interesting that the wing structure had to inch along.
[13:36] bergfrau Apfelbaum: oh
[13:36] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): we will be logged out
[13:36] herman Bergson: OH MY....
[13:36] Max Chatnoir: Oh, man...
[13:36] Ϯinkühr Vel (velika47): nooooo sim restart
[13:36] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): DRAT, speaking of flight!
[13:36] bergfrau Apfelbaum: sim reset
[13:36] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ITS CRASH TIME
[13:36] bergfrau Apfelbaum: to me?
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