60, precepts      • agents of reason conform more-or-less to the autotelic principle and together enforce it in society as moral law, particularly in modern (aka Western) democracies where it informs the basic structure of society      : re `informs the basic structure of society` cf. https://journals-sagepub-com.ezproxy.torontopubliclibrary.ca/doi/full/10.1177/07352751231169012 : ‘a recurrent conflict between security and freedom that has marked the evolution of capitalism’, referring to a dichotomy that accords (at least) with that of the two rights enforced      + seek further confirmation of this dichotomy, which I claim is basic to modern society      • the autotelic principle is enforceable by means that are logically incontestable, even in a plural society, viz. tolerant of varied conceptions of morality      - formally the principle is a moral law, definitive of right \ the principle must be a moral law in itself (not merely in how one takes it), else we could not \ hang rights on it, meaning that in practice it might entail willing the sacrifice of innocents      ∵ a moral law = an absolute norm      ∵ the principle is an absolute norm      ∵ an absolute norm = a norm applicable in all contexts      ∵ the principle is a norm applicable in all contexts      ∵ the principle is a norm      ∵ a principle = a norm      ∵ the principle is applicable in all contexts      ∵ the principle is applicable in all contexts involving reason      ∵ normativity itself entails (involves necessarily) reason      ∵ normativity entails practice      ∵ practice entails practical reason      ∵ practice entails intention      ∵ intention entails ends      ∵ an end is soley a concept of practical reason      conformance, societal and personal: fact and explanation      - agents of reason often work by instinct and intuition, roughly conforming to the autotelic principle without immediately cognizing or thinking of its role as guide and ground of their actions \ Copyright © 2023 Michael Allan.