At 03:11 PM 11/04/2004 -0700, you wrote:
"Selfishness is not a moral value."
No, it is not. But it does seem to be a challenge to moral
values and very much in vogue. I have heard many times the
argument that the capitalist economy turns the immoralities
of self-interest and greed into some form of trickle-down
benefit for the common good. It is a question of individual
interest relative to communal responsibilities.
I suggest that Parker is an example that a code of
self-interest can work quite well, for the short term at
least and the individual life is definitely short term. But
the reader must still ask himself if this is how she would
like to live, or even more, if she would like to live in a
world composed entirely of self-interested individuals. Or
consider whether the balance between self and communal
interest has been lost already. That's a moral question, even
if Jim Doherty already has his answer.
I think
>that's obvious on its face, but if you don't
believe
>in intrinsic morality, and your posts indicate
you
>don't believe in intrinsic ANYTHING, than
there's
>really no point in discussing it.
Yes, you've got me pegged, though of course we disagree on
the desired consequences. I like to hear your views,
unconvincing as they have been so far. They expand my
understanding of the world, if not my appreciation for
it.
Best Kerry
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The evil men do lives after them http://www.murderoutthere.com
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