I think that the underlying metaphysical question is one of ownership, which itself reduces to primacy. This is one that's been bothering me for a while, so I'll toss out my hypothesis in a very rough and abbreviated form...
<NERD>
On one side, some believe that consciousness precedes existence, and thus the ideas that are used to form a self-image are the components of the identity, with no underlying essential nature to the person (or, equivalently, the person is said to conform to the superimposed ideas). In this model, you are male because transsexuals created a masculinity for you. Since the ideas used to construct the self-image are learned, or "socially constructed," it follows naturally that something constructed socially is owned communally. Thus, when you choose to use ideas that others believe themselves to have constructed for you, your identity becomes their property. This leads to the belief that you have a responsibility to serve their political ends (their consciousness is the prime value), much as any tool serves its owner, and your refusal to sacrifice your personal welfare for communal welfare is considered betrayal and theft. This position is common among lesbians, artists, and women in general, at this time.
The alternate position, that existence precedes consciousness, holds that learned ideas are used as descriptors of the underlying essential elements of your identity. In this model, you are male, and transsexuals helped to make you aware of your inherent masculinity. Since your identity is defined by your existence, and your existence precedes any ideas used to describe it, it follows that no one has a claim to your identity, regardless of how it is characterized. This leads to the belief that you have a responsibility to serve your own ends (your existence is the prime value), and while you may choose to serve others, you are not required to do so at the cost of your own welfare. This position is common among straight males, scientists, and men in general, at this time.
(The phrase "prime value" means, here, a foundational and axiomatic principle upon which a morality may be validated. The idea is better expressed, perhaps, in the Chinese phrase "太極" or "taiji," which is the central post around which a large wooden building is constructed, or the greek word "αρχή" or "Arch" which means a source or foundation, though neither word was historically used in this manner.)
</NERD>
You are now free to ignore that bit of intellectual wankage and return to your regularly scheduled programming.
- N
