Re David Orton's post

The sentiments expressed are reasonable enough but:

1) "Green politics is concerned about dignity as much as about material
standard of living. Dignity is essential to life quality. And it is
extended to animals. Animal factories interfere with the dignity of pigs ."

How do pigs experience dignity?  Dignity is a human consruct.  How do we
decide (for ourselves)  what is a dignified way of existence for a pig ?
If we succeed in this definition (and I suspect that it might involve a
lifestyle for pigs which matched their evolved predispositions) why do we
not say "Animal factories interfere with the appropriate life-style of
pigs"?  If on the other hand it is the observer's sense of what is
dignified for a pig that is being offended then is this not a comment on
the observer rather than the pig.

2) "One cannot prove every assertion or norm. There are some which always,
however deep we are digging, are taken as ultimates."

If the 'ulitimates' are not proven then green politics (and any other kind)
is about a choice of values not the identification of philosophical
'truths'.  Right and wrong evaporate into only a difference of viewpoint.

3) "The material standard of living should be drastically reduced and the
quality of life, in the sense of basic satisfaction in the depths of one's
heart or soul, should be maintained or increased. This view is intuitive as
are all important views, in the sense that it can't be proven."

What does this say beyond  'I believe the world should be the way I want it
to be."  It would equally be valid for another commentator (not me
certainly) to substitute a few words and say:
 "Contraception should be drastically reduced and the
quality of life, in the sense of fulfilling Holy Law, should be maintained
or increased. This view is intuitive as are all important views, in the
sense that it can't be proven."

I have sympathy with the idea of a smaller population but on what basis,
other than our intuition of the unproven, do make our decisions? Or is that
all we can reasonably expect to do?


Regards

Paul K