Some issues and arguments go beyond what they appear to be about on the surface. For example, the ongoing debate between creationists and evolutionists clearly isn’t really about creation or evolution- it’s about faith in religion and faith in science; two very different systems that shape the way that we see the world around us. If you fundamentally believe that the bible is the word of God handed down to Man, then no evidence from mere people— however scientifically rigorous their research— will convince you that we evolved from apes. (After all, maybe the fossils were put there to challenge our faith…) If you fundamentally believe that scientific enquiry is the only true path to knowledge, then no unprovable hypothesis will convince you that there is a reasonable chance that we may have been designed or created by a higher power.
In a similar way, the issue of copyright and software licences (that is, “Free” licences vs. proprietary licences) isn’t really about copyright and licencing; it’s about freedom. The complication is that both sides of the debate believe that they are arguing on the side of freedom. (more…)