Truth → Self-ownership → Law + Kindness = 3L Philosophy
Live and Let Live is based on a self-evident truth:
only you can act according to your will.
From this truth emerges rights - you are the owner with exclusive control of yourself. (the opposite of self-ownership being complete or partial slavery).
- It follows that, if your body is your legal property, the possessions you obtain in exchange for your work or from gifts are also your property.
- From this right of self-ownership stems the right to self-defense, and the accompanying right to a fair trial.
Some people, however, may impose their will on you without your consent. This is aggressing. Most people do not want to be aggressed against. Most people recognize that it is unfair to aggress against someone else.
Not wanting to be aggressed against is a bare minimum upon which all reasonable people can agree.
As such, Live and Let Live considers being free from aggressing as a common and fundamental social anchor. This anchor is the foundation for societies where everyone can reach their full potential.
Established from this social anchor is the Legal Principle: ‘don’t aggress’.
- the Legal Principle can be paraphrased as: ‘each of us is free to live our lives in any way we choose so long as we allow others that same freedom’
- the Legal Principle applies equally to all individuals including groups of individuals such as corporations and governments.
- the Legal Principle offers a formula to fairly resolve disputes and holds aggressors accountable.
When everyone in a society adheres to the Legal Principle, individuals in a society are free.
Peace is Live and Let Live’s goal and is the reason Live and Let Live promotes a Moral Principle to complement the Legal Principle.
Unlike the Legal Principle, the Moral Principle is voluntary.
The Moral Principle is aspirational and allows our interactions with others to not only be free from aggressing, but to be civil and proactive.
Another way of saying it
- Live and Let Live (3L) is a way of making life simpler, safer, and sensible.
- The message is in the name: ‘Live’ means be yourself - in freedom to live your life any way you choose, so long as you ‘Let Live’, meaning you allow others that same freedom.
- Every action we choose has consequences. When we live in alignment with the peaceful values of kindness, honesty, tolerance, open-mindedness, wisdom, respect, and courage, we enjoy benefits. Such benefits include more meaningful relationships, greater respect within our communities, and stronger resilience to cope with life’s uncertainties.
- This is the Golden Rule, an ancient cross-cultural wisdom that says ‘treat others as we wish to be treated’. When we are unkind, intolerant, and disrespectful, we should expect people to treat us similarly. These are mistakes we must be free to make as free individuals so we can learn from them. However, those causing serious harms, such as punching someone in the face, stealing someone’s money, or putting someone in danger, must face consequences. Such aggressors must be accountable under justice such as with a fair trial followed by punishment if found guilty. The Legal Principle, that we must not aggress against another, provides the starting place to determine when someone has crossed the line. Actions that do not aggress, however, may also face consequences. People naturally prefer to interact with those who display a certain standard of character. When someone acts with low character, he or she may face social consequences.