Socrates not-so-quietly tried to influence the Athenian public into considering such things as justice, good, and right. Jesus Christ not-so-quietly influenced the public into considering 'one's own sins' before casting a stone at someone else for her sins.
Another not-so-quiet 'call to conscience' was a satirical pamphlet by Jonathan Swift entitled "A Modest Proposal." The precept for this purpose need only be that the essay was 'a call for man to search his conscience.'
Swift used an 'equal but opposite' appeal from the style of Socrates or Jesus Christ. Those two used a formula that included pointing at an injustice, and asking others to put themselves in that position. Swift used the formula of pointing at an injustice, and suggested preposterous expansion of the injustice.
Swift's 'poor taste' was highly criticized. The pamphlet proposed cannibalism of the newborn, including recommendations for preparating the meat. It was presented with the 'might is right' arguments of that e=mc2 factor in history, one of which was the presumption that increasing income was right, regardless of the social consequences.
Those who read it were presented with a mathematically sound argument for allowing the sale and consumption of newborn babies. The absurdity of the topic, however, drew society's attention to a 'missing factor' in the equation, that being one of human suffering.
Socrates attempted to draw society's attention to a 'missing factor' in the equation, that being one of human suffering.
Jesus Christ attempted to draw society's attention to a 'missing factor' in the equation, that being one of human suffering.
One difference between the three is Swift is recognized for his 'literary genius' not his 'philosophic genius.' Another difference is that Swift was not executed. What does it all mean? I don't know yet, and maybe I never will. I'm just rambling.
All had similar 'desired results,' that being 'having individuals add the factor of human suffering when [making decisions/supporting concepts].'
It seems so elementary when drawn like that, but we still haven't learned what they were trying to teach us. Though we don't literally do any longer what these men addressed as immediate issues, we make a few minor changes and rationalize it as different.
For example, in discussions on message boards, it has been suggested that we 'stone child molesters to death.' When I suggest that it's probably already as legal as it will ever be, so no reason to hold back, I get back that they really want 'society to tolerate it,' and 'for someone else to really do it.' When I 'modestly propose' that we also stone the victims for from that source is the likely next generation of pedophiles, I get back that my suggestion is presposterous and in poor taste!
Swift donated his fortune to a hospital for imbiciles. Society should probably follow that lead.
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