Thanks, Richard. I like "From the Window". I'm interested in what your longer thoughts might be.
FYI, about my particular interests:
I'd like to see rights of nature built into Canadian law and thinking. My starting framework: We have various worldviews; they usually include unprovable assumptions about a human person's relation to other creatures in the world; we have to make the assumptions in order to get on with things. Each human culture works out ways of cooperating and of resolving conflicts within its worldview. In a culture, laws are made to enable the culture, and to enforce it when needed.
As 'western' cultures evolve, when we learn and empathize with what other people and creatures require in order to be fully themselves, these requirements become respected in the culture. To persuade agreement, we call these requirements "rights". With social and governmental agreement, such rights may be embodied in law.
A related thought: as people in Canada put energy into reconciling Indigenous cultures and Crown cultures, it's good to note that Indigenous spokespersons sometimes say their cultures put primacy on relationships of "obligations to others", rather than relationships of "rights vis à vis others' rights". They're different and complementary mindsets. Reconciliation may involve accommodating both kinds of relationship simultaneously, in ongoing conversations.
That's an interesting question, Tim. And not an easy one to answer but be assured that I will ponder on it and post my thoughts maybe in a few weeks. Not something to respond to off the cuff. Thanks.
Thanks, Richard. I like "From the Window". I'm interested in what your longer thoughts might be.
FYI, about my particular interests:
I'd like to see rights of nature built into Canadian law and thinking. My starting framework: We have various worldviews; they usually include unprovable assumptions about a human person's relation to other creatures in the world; we have to make the assumptions in order to get on with things. Each human culture works out ways of cooperating and of resolving conflicts within its worldview. In a culture, laws are made to enable the culture, and to enforce it when needed.
As 'western' cultures evolve, when we learn and empathize with what other people and creatures require in order to be fully themselves, these requirements become respected in the culture. To persuade agreement, we call these requirements "rights". With social and governmental agreement, such rights may be embodied in law.
A related thought: as people in Canada put energy into reconciling Indigenous cultures and Crown cultures, it's good to note that Indigenous spokespersons sometimes say their cultures put primacy on relationships of "obligations to others", rather than relationships of "rights vis à vis others' rights". They're different and complementary mindsets. Reconciliation may involve accommodating both kinds of relationship simultaneously, in ongoing conversations.
That's an interesting question, Tim. And not an easy one to answer but be assured that I will ponder on it and post my thoughts maybe in a few weeks. Not something to respond to off the cuff. Thanks.