There is no plausible theory under which the record of the Pentagon Papers can be interpreted as relating to the national defense.
Noam ChomskyRead
Why does everyone take for granted that we don't learn to grow arms, but rather, are designed to grow arms? Similarly, we should conclude that in the case of the development of moral systems; there's a biological endowment which in effect requires us to develop a system of moral judgment and a theory of justice, if you like, that in fact has detailed applicability over an enormous range.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that moral systems are inherent to our nature, similar to physical attributes like arms.
Noam Chomsky emphasizes that just as humans are biologically designed to develop physical traits like arms, there is also an innate biological foundation for the development of moral judgments and systems of justice. This perspective highlights that moral reasoning is not merely a social construct but has deep evolutionary roots that apply across various contexts in human society.
Themes
Moral SystemsJusticeBiological EndowmentMoral JudgmentNature
In practice
Example use cases
During a philosophical debate discussing the origins of morality.
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