-=Dark_Angel=-, P.I.25 Jan 2008

Unfortunately for you, there is nothing scientific about the proposition that "the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few." It's not even a statement that science can have an opinion on, because it is totally unverifiable (whereof we cannot speak, theoreof we must hang our heads in shame.)

But let me tell you another story: Once upon a time, I thought Morals were Magical Wisdoms Floating Around In The Clouds. I thought they were self-evident, timeless truths that were totally disconnected from the petty dealings of Man. That was when I was 6. And amusingly, it isn't far off the religious model for morality, in which The Wond'rous Mysteries of Right and Wrong are REVEALED to the faithful, usually through a text written by a complete prat.

But Scripture and Holy Revelation are not good bases for morality, and they lead to dumplings like this:

"Of all clean birds ye shall eat. But these are they of which ye shall not eat: ... the bat." -- Deut. 14:11-18

A better basis is to simply ask yourself: what do I value? If I said "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few!" I would really be saying that I value human life, and that I would do whatever I could to minimize the net loss of human life. After a good deal of soul-searching (and several unfortunate soilings) I have discovered that I value human life, I value private property, I value personal freedom (provided that freedom does not lead to anyone being gay), and so on. I can't say WHY I value those things -- most are just innate impulses I have -- but the point is I would rather live in a world where people did value such things, so I do what I can to encourage it. The WHY is secondary. I may as well ask myself why I like chocolate. I JUST DO, OK!?

In conclusion: you may eat bats if you wish.