It's a big corner to turn from predation to compassion. Admitting how much one doesn't know and feel that others know and feel. Especially when much of one's feeling is tied up with gaining advantage, keeping advantage. Definitely cooperation is at the root of our biosphere, where pollinators and plants cooperate, supporting us all. The recent judgment against PETA by the same judge who took the CECOT flight lawyers to task, indicates how even our keener 'leaders' do not accept the stance animal liberation knows, the compassion stance, hearing animal 'speech'. I think the connection you make between Christianity and Enlightenment is vital. Washington and Jefferson, both sons of the Enlightenment, saw reason to free their slaves; not perfect men at all, but incredibly visionary about potential for partisanry/tyranny/oljgarchy arising out of America. Enlightenment ho!!
It's a big corner to turn from predation to compassion. Admitting how much one doesn't know and feel that others know and feel. Especially when much of one's feeling is tied up with gaining advantage, keeping advantage. Definitely cooperation is at the root of our biosphere, where pollinators and plants cooperate, supporting us all. The recent judgment against PETA by the same judge who took the CECOT flight lawyers to task, indicates how even our keener 'leaders' do not accept the stance animal liberation knows, the compassion stance, hearing animal 'speech'. I think the connection you make between Christianity and Enlightenment is vital. Washington and Jefferson, both sons of the Enlightenment, saw reason to free their slaves; not perfect men at all, but incredibly visionary about potential for partisanry/tyranny/oljgarchy arising out of America. Enlightenment ho!!
Franklin, not Jefferson, sorry.