I agree that I'm saying "I find being fair and equal is the most important ideal". Where someone could just as easily say "I find being selfish to be the most important ideal".
Indeed, some people do see selfishness as being virtuous.
I simply want to point out, that if one finds being fair and equal to be "the most important", then they'll agree with what I've said that we should respect everyone's right to pursue life and happiness equally. (If you don't think this follows, then I'm very interested in what my flaw is).
Of course I agree with you that such sentiments are extremely virtuous. My only contention is that you are using a moral in order to prove all morals.
Respecting people's rights to personal freedom is based off of a moral template. You can't very well say that this is where our morals derive from, since it in itself is a moral.
I also want to point out that not agreeing with "freedom being the goal of morality" means you have another higher goal.
I just was clarifying what "freedom" entails. Anyone could frame their morals in quaint terms as freedom, but we are not free to do whatever our hearts content. In fact, your freedoms may very well stymie another persons freedom in the process.
Case in point: You may want total freedom to have sex with whom ever you want. But another persons morals may not want them to be raped. So which is right if morals are predicated on freedom alone?
Obviously, a freedom such as this is not a qualifier. Where then do morals come from?
I'd like to say that "treating others fair" is rational while "being selfish" would be irrational.
Sure, but that in itself borrows from a moral framework, does it not?
shouldn't the default be that we're all equal?
Certainly, it feels
right to have everyone on a level playing field. It seems righteous. But where does this spring, especially in light of the animal world where domination and selfish will reigns supreme in a dog eat dog, kill or be killed world?
What has happened in man that he intrinsically understands these principles without thought, if not by the providence of Almighty God?
"It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by the dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions and spends himself in a worthy course; who at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who, at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly; so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat." -Theodore Roosevelt
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