Isn’t it a circular argument to say that slavery is wrong because not having freedom is wrong? Why is the condition of not having freedom inherently wrong?
Lumpy, nice post. Although it’s difficult for me to see how the potential immoral effects of slavery necessarily mean that slavery itself is wrong. For instance, couldn’t your same arguments against slavery be used for other practices like, say, the practice of using an automobile?
Let’s see if I can parellel the points you made against slavery using automobile use instead.
1.) The practice of using an automobile is hard to get out of because the events of one’s life becomes dependent upon it’s continued use. Imagine if the United States suddenly went cold turkey without automobiles…
2.) The use of an automobile almost certainly had a negative effect on society including the physical suffering and death of countless young and old alike.
3.) Use of automobiles and the privileges it offers also has also has a “relegating” effect on a certain “groups of people", specifically the poor, the young, the uneducated, the physically and mentally disabled, non-English speakers, and some elderly–Most whom are not allowed to use automobiles because they either cannot afford to or are simply not allowed to. While those with socially accepted age, intelligence, and income etc use their automobiles as a segregating indicator of status and have the means to autonomously travel and participate independently in society, others are by default excluded from these privileges.
4.) Automobile use (through somewhat of a stretch of the imagination) can also be seen as a means of the wealthy elite to have dominance and a greater chance of survival than the less wealthy. This is true because more expensive cars are often more safe—as is the case with the giant SUV’s which most moderately wealthy people have at least one of.
In short, automobile use is primarily a means for some people to gain power and wealth at the expense of others.
Why is it at other people’s expense? Because our culture has amassed much wealth with the use of the automobile (just as was once the case, unfortunately, with slavery), and this increase in the wealth of individuals has been at the expense of others. Namely, the thousands who have died while in automobiles and the millions of people whose freedom and opportunity for success has been placed beneath that of others because of their inability to buy or use automobiles in an automobile-based society.