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| | 1. A "benefit" is an act welcomed by the recipient. | | 1. A "benefit" is an act welcomed by the recipient. |
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| | 2. A "harm" is an act which directly and actually invades the legitimate domain of a victim. | | 2. A "harm" is an act which directly and actually invades the legitimate domain of a victim. |
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| | 3. Acts which benefit others are good. | | 3. Acts which benefit others are good. |
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| | 4. All acts, and only those acts, which coercively harm others are evil. | | 4. All acts, and only those acts, which coercively harm others are evil. |
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| | 5. Acts which are neither good nor evil are morally neutral. | | 5. Acts which are neither good nor evil are morally neutral. |
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| | The criteria for the universal ethic are: | | The criteria for the universal ethic are: |
| | 1. The ethic should apply universally to all persons. | | 1. The ethic should apply universally to all persons. |
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| | 2. The ethic should be comprehensive for all acts. | | 2. The ethic should be comprehensive for all acts. |
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| | 3. The ethic should be logically consistent with the premises from which it is derived. | | 3. The ethic should be logically consistent with the premises from which it is derived. |
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| | 4. The ethic should not be based merely on arbitrary beliefs, values, or on any particular culture or practice. | | 4. The ethic should not be based merely on arbitrary beliefs, values, or on any particular culture or practice. |
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| | The premises from which the universal ethic are derived are those proposed by the British philosopher John Locke in his Second Treatise of Government. These are: | | The premises from which the universal ethic are derived are those proposed by the British philosopher John Locke in his Second Treatise of Government. These are: |
| | 1. Human beings are morally equal, having an equal moral worth, there being no inherent master-slave relationship in human biology. | | 1. Human beings are morally equal, having an equal moral worth, there being no inherent master-slave relationship in human biology. |
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| | 2. Human beings are independent in their thinking and feeling. | | 2. Human beings are independent in their thinking and feeling. |
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| | 3. Each person has a personal ethic by which acts are deemed to be good, evil, or neutral. | | 3. Each person has a personal ethic by which acts are deemed to be good, evil, or neutral. |
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| | Reference: The Soul of Liberty, by Fred Foldvary. | | Reference: The Soul of Liberty, by Fred Foldvary. |