> From: Kirby Urner [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > To: 'Arthur'; [email protected] > Subject: RE: [Edu-sig] Low Enrollments. > In microcosm, I suppose I'm not that different from Microsoft (I'm just a > lot smaller). I want to survive in a business that interests me. So that > brings me to a philosophical question: what's wrong with that?
Why do I have to explain to a Fullerite the difference between a human being and a Corporate Giant? Microsoft is beyond a certain kind of criticism, in that acting so as to maximize profits is not only within their mission statement, it is their fiduciary responsibility. > I don't see my goal as in principle unethical. It's what teachers have > always wanted: to teach, to have brilliant students who make a difference > in the world, and to receive food and shelter while doing some honest > work. Food and shelter is good. Seeking that, and acting in concert as an organization with the mission of maximizing profits are apples and oranges motivating factors and can only and necessarily lead to apple and orange approaches and decisions. You can try to collaborate with Microsoft, but I can't see the basis to believe it will be a workable collaboration. I would hate to see them using you the way they would tend to, point to a small scale pilot project for its PR effect and to justify more dubious claims and assertions. Microsoft is well past the food and shelter stage of things, and for them to collaborate with you they would have to be doing so in a context with an ultimate goal of profit maximization. Otherwise they are not acting within the terms of their charter and mission statement. And nobody is accusing them of that. It might be in your own self-interest to not look too deeply into the fuller agenda motivating any support you might get from them, or think too deeply about it. Up to you. Art _______________________________________________ Edu-sig mailing list [email protected] http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/edu-sig
