Issue 594 1st and 2nd Principles May 19, 2015

Now this is about principles.  In this case 1st principles which guide our actions and the 2nd principles which guide our interests.  Let us discuss.

1st Principles:  These are our natural rights, our morals and that which guides us.  So such things as freedom of speech, expression, and to act and do anything so long as it does not harm others are the core component of this.  But this also includes love, compassion, gratitude, and humility.  For these act as the lens by which we exercise our freedoms.  So we use freedom of assembly to get together, and use compassion in that assembly of people to better understand those around us.  We use empathy, acceptance, and attempt to understand each other without being rude or unkind as that would divide us.  It is the same in a relationship.  If we have our lover, we treat them with respect (a 1st principle) or else they will leave us.  Yes I know these examples are simplistic, but these basics of treating others well, and exercising our right without harming others are designed to guide us and our 2nd principles.

2nd Principles:  While 1st principles guide us, 2nd principles are our interests.  So a simplistic example is food.  It is in our interest to get food to eat.  But without the first principles, we would be attacking others for their food.  This is because if we stole from others, we would be violating property rights of the other person (a 1st principle).  But through the lens of 1st principles this also means that nothing should prevent you from growing your own food, sharing it for free or hoarding it if you feel it necessary.  This is because the 1st principles say that the food you own is yours to do with what you please.  Another example is low taxes.  This is a second principle because it too is an interest.  So how can we screw this up?  Simple, by you advocating one group pay more so you do not have to.  This violates fair treatment amongst fellow citizens (the 1st principle is fairness).  But once you put your own interests above those of others and you ignore fair treatment, or as in the case of the food example, their property rights, harmony breaks down and society becomes disjointed.  Basically, without the 1st principles, the 2nd principles would be sought via an ends justify the means mentality, which is a recipe for disaster.

Conclusion:  1st principles guide us, and 2nd principles govern all our interests.   When the 2nd principles go first, then we attack each other, we stop caring because it is all about what we want at the cost of everything around us.  But with the 1st principles firmly in place, we need not fear a thief or mob, for they tell us to respect each other, behave civilly, and listen in an attempt to better understand, and work with others.