Re: MD When is a metaphysics not a metaphysics?

From: Platt Holden (pholden@sc.rr.com)
Date: Thu Mar 04 2004 - 13:40:23 GMT

  • Next message: Paul Turner: "RE: MD When is a society a good society?"

    Hi Leland Jory,

    > >If focusing on making a good living makes one happy, what's the problem?
    > >
    > >
    > "We want to make good time, but for us now this is measured with
    > emphasis on "good" rather than "time" and when you make that shift in
    > emphasis the whole approach changes." - ZMM, Chapter 1
    >
    > Substitute 'living' for 'time'. Similar idea. There's nothing inherently
    > negative about 'time', but when you focus on time, you lose sight of
    > quality. Same goes for a 'living' (as measured by material wealth).

    I put the emphasis on "good" in "good living," whether by accumulation of
    material wealth or simply by making a lot of money to be able to fund
    philanthropic projects. What's bothersome is some defining the "good" for
    others without having the slightest idea of the basis of their moral
    judgments.

    > True, but money never bought happiness. The closest it comes is buying
    > "things which are conducive to happiness", but that is not the same thing.
    > I can't remember the exact passage, but the Tao Te Ching talks about the
    > greater your material wealth, the less you can enjoy it (because of the
    > fear of losing it).

    As Sophie Tucker said, "I've been rich and I've been poor. Rich is
    better."
     
    > >Yes. What is good for society is individual freedom and responsibility,
    > >not government handouts.
    > >
    > >
    > Actually, individual freedom can be very BAD for society. That's not to say
    > that freedom is bad. I'd conjecture that, if individual freedom conflicts
    > with a society then the flaw is with that society's static value patterns.
    > What's needed is some Dynamic Quality to make the society evolve to such a
    > point that the value of individual freedom fits harmoniously.

    Do you have some proposals for a better society like Matt, Poot and DM?

    Platt
     

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