SNITCHES AND TATTLETALES

James Joyner | Friday, July 18, 2003

Daniel Davies is leading an interesting discussion over at Crooked Timber on the subject:

Why is it that no moral or political philosophy of which I am aware has a satisfactory explanation for the fact that snitches, grasses and tattle-tales are almost universally reviled? In most other areas of moral philosophy, it is considered generally unsatisfying at least to have what is known as an “error theory”; a set of principles which commits you to the belief that the majority of the population are wrong in some of their strongly held beliefs. But in the case of snitches, grasses and squealers, most of the moral philosophies I’ve ever heard of seem to be more or less entirely committed to an error theory? Why?

Amusingly, this subject is one of the pet peeves of one G. Gordon Liddy, who approaches it with somewhat less reference to the philosophical literature.

About the Author: James Joyner is the publisher of Outside the Beltway and the managing editor of the Atlantic Council. He's a former Army officer, Desert Storm vet, and college professor with a PhD in political science from The University of Alabama. He lives just outside the Beltway in Alexandria, Virginia.

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I've never heard the term "grass" or "grasses" used in this manner. Interesting.

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Posted by Dean Esmay | July 19, 2003 | 02:30 am | Permalink

 

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