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Single Idea 23837

[filed under theme 23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 3. Virtues / h. Respect ]

Full Idea

Humans have only one obligation: respect. The obligation is only performed if the respect is effectively expressed in a real, not a fictitious, way; and this can only be done through the medium of Man's earthly needs.

Gist of Idea

Respect is our only obligation, which can only be expressed through deeds, not words

Source

Simone Weil (The Need for Roots [1943], I 'Needs')

Book Ref

Weil,Simone: 'The Need for Roots' [Routledge 2002], p.6

A Reaction

She says man's 'eternal destiny' imposes this obligation. I read this as saying that you should not imagine that you treat people respectfully if you are merely polite to them. Col. Pickering and Eliza Doolittle! Respect is the supreme virtue.

The 18 ideas with the same theme [assigning value to the lives of others]:

21029 Kantian respect is for humanity and reason (not from love or sympathy or solidarity) [Kant, by Sandel]
21425 We can love without respect, and show respect without love [Kant]
21427 Respect is limiting our self-esteem by attending to the human dignity of other persons [Kant]
21430 Disrespect is using a person as a mere means to my own ends [Kant]
21428 Respect is purely negative (of not exalting oneself over others), and is thus a duty of Right [Kant]
21426 Love urges us to get closer to people, but respect to keep our distance [Kant]
21434 We must respect the humanity even in a vicious criminal [Kant]
20259 Teach youth to respect people who differ with them, not people who agree with them [Nietzsche]
1460 Religious experience deserves the same respect as our other key experiences, and is best called 'holy' [Taylor,AE, by PG]
21517 Individuals need creativity, reverence for others, and self-respect [Russell]
5917 People lose their rights if they do not respect the rights of others [Ross]
23815 We cannot equally respect what is unequal, so equal respect needs a shared ground [Weil]
23837 Respect is our only obligation, which can only be expressed through deeds, not words [Weil]
4005 To have respect for people, you must feel their claims, or their injustices, or hold them in awe [Taylor,C]
3236 Equality of opportunity without equality of respect would create a very inhuman society [Williams,B]
23223 The word 'respect' ranges from mere non-interference to the highest levels of reverence [Blackburn]
7589 Altruism is either emotional (where your interests are mine) or moral (where they are reasons for me) [Scruton]
20547 We should respect the right of people to live in their own way, even if it is irrational [Swift]