I think the semantic argument is where some people get lost here Gruss. It might be better to use a word like ambition or desire. Greed has such a negative connotation for most people that you will automatically have people arguing with you.
I think everyone here knows of my passion for Rand, and as such you know that I understand what you mean by greed is just the natural human desire to succeed, to grow and gain more. The want that we all feel, whether it's some consumer item like your cat back, or even a desire for relationships. I mean, all of these things are essentially an exchange of some sort, with purchasing power it's an exchange of money, which you get by working. With relationships it's an exchange of values, which you also get by working, just in a different manner. I don't believe in altruism in the least. I think that everything humans do is guided by self interest. From working hard to get more money and things for yourself, to donating to charity and doing good works for some supposed reward in the great hereafter. Hmmm, there I go rambling again. > -----Original Message----- > From: Gruss Gott [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Monday, January 09, 2006 8:34 PM > To: CF-Community > Subject: Re: Next in line to be labelled Dictator by America > > > Dana wrote: > > Larry what we have here is the utilitarian philosophy run > amok. It is > > a reasonably valid if somewhat depressing system of thought. > > I'm not sure what you mean here, but speaking of charity > that's how I like to think of spending. > > Like anything, greed run amok is a bad thing. When people > steal or kill for stuff, that's not good. But when people > endeavor to excel (because of their greed) they create wealth: > > * A more effective system of teaching. > * A new procedure for heart surgery. > * A way to grow more nutritious vegetables. > > Capitalism, when used within an egalitarian legal system, > turns greed into public works. It allows us to pursue our > passions and turns our efforts into the input for others passions. > > So let's be honest: you want that new PS3, to take that new > polisci class, or maybe just a beer. > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:5:191366 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/5 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:5 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.5 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
