Kant would probably agree with universality being rooted in dignity. But if you go down that path, you'll probably find yourself on the losing end of the cultural war. The word "dignity" can be used as a vicious hammer, by those with malicious intent, to crush any form of individuality and self expression.
For example, an apparatchik might request that people like Glenn pay additional tax, because he's "too smart". Such a tax, only on the genius, creates an "equal playing field" and returns "dignity" to those with less talent.
Or a more insidious apparatchik might request that Glenn undergo a procedure, in which he's required to transfer some of his intelligence to someone else whose "dignity" is at stake.
It seems to me that Universality is rooted in certain fundamental truths, and that these truths can be identified through our faculty of reason. These values, found by deduction and experience, are then adopted by our culture, out of a necessity, to help us live in harmony, and harmony is necessary for procreation and for advancement.
Kant would probably agree with universality being rooted in dignity. But if you go down that path, you'll probably find yourself on the losing end of the cultural war. The word "dignity" can be used as a vicious hammer, by those with malicious intent, to crush any form of individuality and self expression.
For example, an apparatchik might request that people like Glenn pay additional tax, because he's "too smart". Such a tax, only on the genius, creates an "equal playing field" and returns "dignity" to those with less talent.
Or a more insidious apparatchik might request that Glenn undergo a procedure, in which he's required to transfer some of his intelligence to someone else whose "dignity" is at stake.
It seems to me that Universality is rooted in certain fundamental truths, and that these truths can be identified through our faculty of reason. These values, found by deduction and experience, are then adopted by our culture, out of a necessity, to help us live in harmony, and harmony is necessary for procreation and for advancement.