Are fact and opinion distinct? Andrew Brown's blog for the Guardian questions whether we can have individual morality in the face of environmental concerns. He states "It is not enough for us to do the right thing - others must as well." The discussion raises two important questions for me.
Firstly, how do we know what is the right thing? We can listen to advice from experts and scientists but still have very different approaches to how environmental concerns should be tackled. I remember clearly an argument with my brother in law about this issue. He felt strongly that the only way to slow the environmental damage we are doing to the globe would be a complete ban on private car use. I argued this was unrealistic and that people should each make their own small steps to add up to a bigger change. We both had our opinion; there is probably merit in both approaches but if Andrew Brown is right only a clear and universalised policy will work. Well reasoned opinions would not help if this policy could not be agreed.
My second question is how do you get others to accept your view as right? It must be presented as an undisputable fact - a skill politicians often choose to employ. But where then is the place for the free-will and rational thinking that many people consider make us human? If we all accept the views of a select minority as fact then we are in danger of becoming dehumanised.
So what is the solution? Are free thinking individuals immoral because they do not accept universal action imposed by authorities or should we feel compelled to act as one humanity by allowing governments and scientists to dictate our opinions based on scientific fact?
To read Andrew Brown's article in full go to http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/andrewbrown/2009/nov/06/religion-atheism
