you're really stripping things down to basics, arent'cha?
Okay, I'm not sure if you're going for Socratic irony here, and if you are, kudos for being the kind of person that incites thought instead of spouting dogma. If all Christians were like you, I would be less resentful of the group as a whole. And I mean that in a most complimentary manner.
But if you're not, and you really are wondering the answer to that question, then I in turn have to wonder-- *how do you determine value?* I know that you prefer to keep things theoretical, but when you strip things down far enough you start having to rely on personal philosophy, and since you're asking, it's only fair that you at least offer a committed answer of your own.
Maybe I'm misunderstanding your question, and your answer to how you determine value may help, but my answer seemed really obvious to me once I thought about it for a minute. The hard part is putting it into words!
>>what is about her that makes her undeserving of such an attack, irrespective of her behavior, irrespective of everything.<<
I never said she didn't deserve is irrespective of anything. I believe everything depends on your behavior, and I believe in "equal and opposite reactions." Specifically, I implied that dressing like a tramp does not justify a rapist. I'm not saying there's anything that would, but the way you dress is not it.
de·serve
transitive verb : to be worthy of : MERIT
intransitive verb : to be worthy, fit, or suitable for some reward or requital
If you accept the premise that it was not within the rights of the rapist to victimize the tramp, then it must be assumed that he was in no way justified in his actions, that merely dressing trampy was not worthy of this requital. So if he wasn't justified, and she didn't do anything, then how can she possibly deserve it.
This to me wasn't about value at all. I don't believe in intrinsic value, and because I have no way of determining what value she would have to me, I can't use that as my standard.
And as for value being bestowed by Constitution, convention, or society, not to mention religion...if your value system is dictated to you by any of these, then of course it disappears if the institution breaks down. That's why I hold my own values. I can defend them, I can adjust them as I learn and change, I like who I am because of them, and I don't need the threat of eternal damnation or the comfort of a "greater being" in charge to uphold them and live by them.
