Ah okay that seems like a step towards a more solid metric to me: is what I’m doing (some thing that necessitates breaking the law) truly of potential extraordinary impact?
This of course would need further definition because extraordinary can be relative, but combine this requirement with placing greater weight on avoiding corrosion at a organizational and community level, and it will probably work out where you will effectively never break the law, but doesn’t completely shut the doors.
A further question would be if you think the chance you get caught should factor in? Say this person thinks there is a 0.0001% chance they get caught doing this, is that enough to override the more caution oriented principle above? Do you think its still not worth it because its corrosive effects don’t just come from getting caught but also just undertaking the action at all?
The corrosive effects generally occur when one breaks the law due to the perceived importance of one’s mission. Getting “caught” is not necessary, although more widespread knowledge of the breach may intensify the corrosive effect. You know, and the organization and community may know, that you broke the law because you thought your mission was special enough that it put you above the law. That is a perilous attitude to hold; it may lead to murdering an elderly pawnbroker and other problematic acts.
Note that breaking the law for other reasons—e.g., this dog-leash law makes no sense when my dog is well-trained and there’s no one around for 400 feet—does not necessarily pose a risk of corrosion. It’s acting like you have a special exemption that poses heightened risk.[1]
Civil disobedience can be tricky, but it is often performed publicly and in full knowledge that the person will be submitting to the punishment set by the laws. Moreover, it is often targeted at laws one strongly believes are unjust, and “this is a seriously unjust law” is generally a non-corrosive reason for disobeying it. Thus, civil disobedience generally does not pose the same risks of creating problematic beliefs and patterns of action than silent disobedience of laws that one believes are OK to slightly bad as generally applied.
Ah okay that seems like a step towards a more solid metric to me: is what I’m doing (some thing that necessitates breaking the law) truly of potential extraordinary impact?
This of course would need further definition because extraordinary can be relative, but combine this requirement with placing greater weight on avoiding corrosion at a organizational and community level, and it will probably work out where you will effectively never break the law, but doesn’t completely shut the doors.
A further question would be if you think the chance you get caught should factor in? Say this person thinks there is a 0.0001% chance they get caught doing this, is that enough to override the more caution oriented principle above? Do you think its still not worth it because its corrosive effects don’t just come from getting caught but also just undertaking the action at all?
The corrosive effects generally occur when one breaks the law due to the perceived importance of one’s mission. Getting “caught” is not necessary, although more widespread knowledge of the breach may intensify the corrosive effect. You know, and the organization and community may know, that you broke the law because you thought your mission was special enough that it put you above the law. That is a perilous attitude to hold; it may lead to murdering an elderly pawnbroker and other problematic acts.
Note that breaking the law for other reasons—e.g., this dog-leash law makes no sense when my dog is well-trained and there’s no one around for 400 feet—does not necessarily pose a risk of corrosion. It’s acting like you have a special exemption that poses heightened risk.[1]
Civil disobedience can be tricky, but it is often performed publicly and in full knowledge that the person will be submitting to the punishment set by the laws. Moreover, it is often targeted at laws one strongly believes are unjust, and “this is a seriously unjust law” is generally a non-corrosive reason for disobeying it. Thus, civil disobedience generally does not pose the same risks of creating problematic beliefs and patterns of action than silent disobedience of laws that one believes are OK to slightly bad as generally applied.