tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-583239250485118416.post5663402735906472224..comments2023-10-06T05:02:06.935-05:00Comments on Atheist Homeschooler: naughty and niceFieryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08681456246185901798noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-583239250485118416.post-91237661976293945892008-01-29T20:45:00.000-06:002008-01-29T20:45:00.000-06:00Richard: while I may not have enumerated the philo...Richard: while I may not have enumerated the philosophic aspects as bluntly as you did, my statement in no way precludes the rational selfishness you suggest, since my own philosophic background is of that nature. As it was a letter to a child, it was stated in terms he could understand and relate to about his own behavior that he can control. It wasn't meant as a philosophic treatise that he should carry with him through grad school and base his adult morals on.<BR/><BR/><I>... one helps the old lady cross the street because ...she is a general human value –to you. It is an error to help the lady in hopes of getting help in one's old age. </I><BR/><BR/>I never said that by helping the little old lady as a child that he would be paid back in kind as an old man. I said that as a little old man, you "would very much appreciate a kind, thoughtful lad to give you a shoulder to lean on as you cross the street." Be the kind of person you want to have around you, modeling appropriate behavior for others is rationally selfish and not karmatically driven.<BR/><BR/>I was actually trying to encourage Johnny in a behavior that is more likely to create a society in which behavior like that is common, which you go on to say yourself.<BR/><BR/><I>"if one does behave for the reasons I've suggested, and promotes that kind of rational selfishness, then one is more likely to reach old age in a society of people who will help you across the street.</I>Fieryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08681456246185901798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-583239250485118416.post-59770404805818596262008-01-08T11:42:00.000-06:002008-01-08T11:42:00.000-06:00I somehow missed this post :-(Santa’s response wa...I somehow missed this post :-(<BR/><BR/>Santa’s response was great, but two sentences raised my philosophical 'antennae'.<BR/><BR/>"<I>You treat your brothers kindly because they in turn treat you kindly.</I>"<BR/><BR/>"<I>You help little old ladies, my boy, because it is the right thing to do. Because someday you will be a little old man who would very much appreciate a kind, thoughtful lad to give you a shoulder to lean on as you cross the street.</I>"<BR/><BR/>That approach to 'doing right', repeatedly fails --I have lots of personal experience on it! The approach is reflected in such claims as "Karma", the bahble's "Good Samaritan" story, the fable of the "Mouse and the Lion" and the movie "Pay it Forward" (which I have not seen, so can only comment on popular use of the phrase).<BR/><BR/>All implicitly presume that kindness will be repaid, <I>somehow</I>. The "Mouse and the Lion" promotes the notion that others will act with justice. Others often don't. The other three presume a kind of cosmic force (incl. God) that will make such things balance out fairly. <BR/><BR/>Certainly it is true that the poor character of the beneficiary (who does not respond in kind) will lead to a certain level of overall unhappiness (but they often manage just fine by blanking-out or rationalizing away their injustice).<BR/><BR/>None of the above are reasons to act kindly to another person. How we ought to act towards another person depends on the relationship one has with them.<BR/><BR/>A complete stranger should be given the benefit of doubt, so we would do minor things for them that do not cost us too much (in time, money or stress). If saving their life means a simple warning we should do so, because life is a value, and other humans are or can be a value by virtue of their contribution to one's social context. For example, if they hold down a job they produce things which make our life better.<BR/><BR/>Your parents, unless they are violent &/or verbally abusive, have done you the enormous service of raising you. They did it with the selfish goal of seeing a human being develop into a responsible and enjoyable adult whatever they may think that entails (even if you were an ‘accident’,). To the extent that they have done it well, it is right and proper for you to act with positive justice toward them.<BR/><BR/>A sibling is similar to the stranger above, but far more is known about him. Most importantly, he is a part of your parents' intentions. He must therefore be treated in that light --which in no way means ignoring or letting him get away with dishonest and destructive acts. <BR/><BR/>To act with good character requires a selfish honesty about context, and requires that one act with proportional <I>justice</I>. One may make errors in such judgments and be too kind to the undeserving or not kind enough to the deserving, but the selfish goal is productive relationships and personal good character.<BR/><BR/>With this selfish approach, one helps the old lady cross the street because it is not an onerous task and she is a general human value –to <I>you</I>. It is an error to help the lady in hopes of getting help in one's old age. By that logic one is acting on a faulty sense of investment for an unlikely compensation. One is likely to wind up bitter because the hoped for “compensation” may not occur. <BR/><BR/>However, I think if one does behave for the reasons I've suggested, and promotes that kind of rational selfishness, then one is more likely to reach old age in a society of people who <I>will</I> help you across the street.Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02479600882274172677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-583239250485118416.post-79216065304293819592008-01-07T21:06:00.000-06:002008-01-07T21:06:00.000-06:00Hey OzAtheist! Thank ya kindly! :)Glad to see you...Hey OzAtheist! Thank ya kindly! :)Glad to see you poke your head up again! :DFieryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08681456246185901798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-583239250485118416.post-52476384180501218482008-01-07T21:02:00.000-06:002008-01-07T21:02:00.000-06:00That was piss funny.I think we can all learn a les...That was piss funny.<BR/><BR/>I think we can all learn a lesson from that tale.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-583239250485118416.post-19833910290908373612008-01-03T19:51:00.000-06:002008-01-03T19:51:00.000-06:00awwww well shucks you guys, thanks!!!!The cold is...awwww well shucks you guys, thanks!!!!<BR/><BR/>The cold is kicking my butt and I feel fairly lousy. Hopefully I'll get some good sleep tonight.Fieryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08681456246185901798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-583239250485118416.post-15075578448035433812008-01-03T19:29:00.000-06:002008-01-03T19:29:00.000-06:00That should be sent or read to every child who sti...That should be sent or read to every child who still believes in santa!! Nice one Fires:)T T Eyeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08433060115732615503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-583239250485118416.post-24539128629706875672008-01-03T17:41:00.000-06:002008-01-03T17:41:00.000-06:00Classic... That is excellent.How's your cold progr...Classic... That is excellent.<BR/><BR/>How's your cold progressing?<BR/><BR/>Rest Sis XXProtium the Heathenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16196654376783111938noreply@blogger.com