MSI Press Blog

  I have been thinking a lot about authority and autonomy lately. I know I would like some standard--or algorithm, in today's language--as to when to follow authority and when to follow our own judgment.  The truth, though, is that it always comes down to the latter. Even if we defer to some authority, we have made the choice of which authority to follow--a choice already influenced by our own upbringing, values, experiences, etc. I guess there is comfort in projecting those values on an Authority "out there," but that "plausible deniability" is really illusory.  In that context, we may need to reconsider some of some of our mythic heroes and the decisions that they made. Maybe the Biblical Abraham was wrong in offering to sacrifice his son, Isaac, at God's command. Maybe Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita was wrong in suppressing his compassion for his kin because of Krishna's demand that he fulfill his duty as a warrior. Or, put another way, maybe Jean Paul S...

  Liberty is often portrayed as the ultimate goal of democratic life. But liberty without responsibility is unstable—like a bridge with only one support. For freedom to endure, it must be paired with accountability, empathy, and a commitment to the common good. Extremist movements tend to sever this connection. They claim rights without acknowledging the duties that sustain them. But the Constitution doesn’t grant liberty in a vacuum—it embeds it in a system of checks, balances, and shared obligations. ⚖️ Rights Come with Responsibilities Every constitutional right carries an implicit responsibility: •  Free speech demands truthfulness and respect for others’ dignity. •  Religious liberty requires tolerance of differing beliefs. •  Due process depends on respect for legal institutions and procedures. When these responsibilities are ignored, liberty becomes distorted—used to justify harm, exclusion, or chaos. 🔄 The Civic Contract Democracy is a contract, not a ...

  Liberty is often portrayed as the ultimate goal of democratic life. But liberty without responsibility is unstable—like a bridge with only one support. For freedom to endure, it must be paired with accountability, empathy, and a commitment to the common good. Extremist movements tend to sever this connection. They claim rights without acknowledging the duties that sustain them. But the Constitution doesn’t grant liberty in a vacuum—it embeds it in a system of checks, balances, and shared obligations. ⚖️ Rights Come with Responsibilities Every constitutional right carries an implicit responsibility: •  Free speech demands truthfulness and respect for others’ dignity. •  Religious liberty requires tolerance of differing beliefs. •  Due process depends on respect for legal institutions and procedures. When these responsibilities are ignored, liberty becomes distorted—used to justify harm, exclusion, or chaos. 🔄 The Civic Contract Democracy is a contract, not a ...