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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Elder-Basilisk" data-source="post: 2045238" data-attributes="member: 3146">Really? So, in order to be respectful of human dignity, one can't condemn anything or lecture anyone on morality? Somehow I doubt you'd take that view about anything you actually think to be wrong. "Don't lecture those slavers about morality, put them down, or act like you're higher than them; lecturing people on morality is an offense against human dignity." "Don't lecture that rapist about morality, put him down, or act like you're higher than him, ladies and gentlemen of the jury. To do that is an offense against human dignity?" Sounds pretty absurd doesn't it?It is of course, possible for "lectures" on morality to be counterproductive or offenses against human dignity. However, the idea of moral instruction inherently recognizes human dignity--it treats people as moral beings who have the potential for virtue and are worth helping along that path. Indifference would not be nearly as respectful of the dignity of a moral being.In fact, your contention here is, itself evidence of this. What could the admonition to avoid "lecturing people about morality" be if not moral instruction? (You say we should avoid it because it's offensive to human dignity).  The command implies a concern for human dignity, not the reverse. Even your confused and self-contradictory statement is evidence that moral instruction and human dignity are not opposed.</blockquote>