tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28755195.post2000329248013432350..comments2023-09-25T04:26:51.568-06:00Comments on The Barefoot Bum: Benefit and goodLarry Hamelinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08788697573946266404noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28755195.post-24094121294827006782008-03-19T08:36:00.000-06:002008-03-19T08:36:00.000-06:00There is no such thing as a truly selfless act, ex...There is no such thing as a <I>truly</I> selfless act, except in the sense that our bodies and brains "obey" physical law. It's a contradiction in terms: It is the self that acts; how can a self act in a selfless way?<BR/><BR/>The evaluation of good is often made subconsciously; it is the job of philosophers and psychologists to consider such evaluation consciously and explicitly.<BR/><BR/>The dichotomy between selfishness and altruism is specious and misleading. A much better way to describe the dichotomy is between being <B>considerate</B> (of the feelings of others) and <B>inconsiderate</B> (or being outright sadistic).<BR/><BR/>This is one reason why I don't like religion, or why I think religion follows from ethics, not the other way around. If you're considerate of other people <I>just because</I> it's important to you yourself to be considerate, you're at best just pushing your innate consideration back onto God.<BR/><BR/>On the other hand, if you're innately inconsiderate, and you act considerately <I>just because</I> you fear divine punishment (or crave divine reward), are you really good? In my opinion, no: you're merely <I>obedient</I>, and you'll obey an inconsiderate or sadistic authority just as easily as you'll obey a considerate authority.Larry Hamelinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08788697573946266404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28755195.post-42952524494923070822008-03-19T07:56:00.000-06:002008-03-19T07:56:00.000-06:00Larry, Do you think the evaluation (judgment made ...Larry, <BR/><BR/>Do you think the evaluation (judgment made about how <I>good</I> a course of action is) is subconscious; consider a 'truly selfless act'. If this kind of motivation is indeed subconscious, then any truly selfless act would be impossible (which I strongly suspect) or it would at least be impossible to be sure of the motivation. An individual may believe consciously that they act <I>despite</I> their own interest but this might not be the case at all. Good can only be the response to personal drives. These drives can include the more <I>virtuous</I> ones like empathy but we are all still reacting to subjective experiences. Is there such a thing then as the truly selfless act?<BR/><BR/>Would something like the following qualify?<BR/><BR/>You do a favor for a dying stranger you hate, which will result in your painful death and accomplish a goal you despise. No one will ever know this has taken place.<BR/><BR/>If it must be something of this nature, it hard to see how that much selflessness is a good thing.The Celtic Chimphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04570106602777322387noreply@blogger.com