Based on off-line discussion with my grandfather, I propose that there are 
only three fundamental principles worth fighting for in human society:
   1. Social Welfare
   2. Fairness
   3. The Search for Knowledge

(This started with an argument about the parental retort "who says life's 
supposed to be fair?")

   (1 and 2 are distinct because if we're all equally miserable, that's
   fair but not welfare maximizing.  Likewise, of the methods for dividing
   a cake, for example, the method of "I get all of it" maximizes the sum
   of our utilities, but we nonetheless prefer splitting it in half.)

Is there a number 4?

-- 
http://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/dreeves  - -  search://"Daniel Reeves"