Legitimism: its Confusions

Distinctions

  • Legitimist Ethical Obligations

differ from

  • Legitimist Political Principles

differ from

  • Moral Institutionsof Society

The Legitimist obligation in ethical choice (PH'6) is «to set rules».

The Legitimist political principle (i.e. in the PH'6C-Mode 2 or PH'6CK-L2) is about «applying laws equally to all», rather than allowing rulers to govern and live in accord with their own personal whims and wishes.

Moral institutions in society are developed from various ethical rules(PH"6) that shape and constrain behaviours. The various Types of ethical rule are combined to construct ethical authorities(sPH”6), which further shape and judge behaviours.

The aim of moral institutions is to maintain an ethical order within society.

There will be more on the moral context of politics at the 6th Level. For a detailed account of ethical choices, rules and authorities, see relevant Chapters in: Working with Values: Software of the Mind (1995).

Ethics requires Freedom

No designed law, constitution or ethical institution can, in itself, deal with a person or group determined to use violence. In the face of brute ferocity and without order in society, ethics becomes meaningless.

As a result, both the government and the people are far more concerned with the social order (sPH6-G71) than with the ethical order (sPH"6-G71).

Originally posted: July 2009; Last updated: 2 June 2014