| |
|
|
Hey [you]! If you haven't noticed, this is now the old digibutter forums. Go over to the new site!
digibutter.nerr
It's Hi-Technicaaal!
|
| Author |
Message |
Cid
Lord Krump
Joined: 21 Apr 2007
Posts: 7880
HP: 60 MP: 2 Lives: 0
|
 Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 10:40 am
|
 |
|
Inspired by a chat discussion. As I did with the last couple of serious discussion threads I made, I'll quote what I said before, and add in new content after that.
| Quote: | Discuss self-interest; namely, the desire for one's own success. Also, discuss focusing on the achievement of oneself instead of helping others.
There is nothing wrong with working for self-interest or one's own personal achievement, in my opinion. People shouldn't have to feel sympathetic for the less successful (It's great if you do, but it shouldn't be a requirement.) Heck, I believe that a society driven by self-interest and greed (As long as it doesn't harm others) would result in more progress and advancement than a, say, pure communist one.
Some say that it is unfair that some are rich and some are poor. I find this wrong; it would be unfair if the rich would have to give up the money they originally had (Unless they got it through dirty methods; that's another story) because someone is less fortunate. The belief that self-interest and non-harmful-to-others greed is wrong is incorrect, in my opinion.
Controversial first post, controversial subject... all the ingredients are in the right place. Let the debating begin. |
| Quote: | Let's talk about what "greed" is. Is it truly something "evil"? Is desire to succeed and make a profit wrong? Is self-interest a bad thing?
I don't see a problem with people being greedy, having self-interest, or having desire as long as it doesn't come at the expenses of other people. For instance, let's say that someone makes millions by creating a business that sells a popular product, but does so in a clean way- just succeeding against the competition. Is it wrong for that person to not give away some of his fortune to others, even though he earned it?
Well, now you have a good idea of what I'm getting at. Is wanting money and/or success a bad thing, even if it doesn't involve harming others? |
The fact of the matter is, everyone is motivated by self-desire and greed. It is the motivating factor behind all progress, and everyone is greedy or selfish to an extent.
Now, when greed harms another person, it's wrong- but some people think of greed as something that only harms people, when it isn't. Greed is something much larger than that. Let's look at what most greed/selfishness appears as, and I'll do this by commenting on "selflessness."
There is no such thing as being "selfless." In the end, you're helping people for the knowledge that you are doing good, the pride that you're doing good, the feeling that you're doing good, or if you're religious, for the knowledge that you won't burn in Hell. In all these cases, you're working for making yourself feel good by helping others, which is often overlooked/not acknowledged.
People often argue in return that they do it "only because they want to help people." Notice the word "want." Want = desire, and when you want something, you're caring about what your desires and yourself- in the end, you're showing self-desire.
Not that this is a bad thing, though. It's the reality of human nature, and it leads to all progress in our society- it should be celebrated, and only despised when it is used for the wrong purposes. It leads to caring for others, and if "selflessness" truly existed, those who were selfless would be 100% apathetic, and would die/cease to exist because of their ultimate apathy towards life in general (There may be some people who come close to this, but to get to where I'm talking about, you have to be 100% emotionless.)
Also, here's an example that demonstrate how self-interest/greed lead to others being happier. You're hungry, and you want to get a nice, juicy steak. You say to yourself, "Hmm, I'll go down to the restaurant and get myself some beef." So, you go down to the restaurant, and are greeted by friendly employees standing at the front. Why are they so friendly, and why are they helping you? Because they're doing it for money.
Who killed the cow and made it in to the steak, and why did they do it? Not because they cared about who got the steak, but because they wanted the payment to do so. But you don't care why they did it. You just care that you have great service and a tasty steak to eat.
As you can see, people caring about themselves, or in other words, being selfish or greedy, leads to the improvement of society altogether.
Alright, discuss and debate. I dare any of you to prove these facts of life wrong. I've provided my own reasons, you provide yours. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Fat Tuper
lovegod703
Joined: 06 May 2008
Posts: 5515
HP: 10 MP: 6 Lives: 0
|
| Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 12:01 pm
|
|
|
|
In short: I think greed is bad unless it motivates you to do something good. Like "Oh, I really want [insert item here], but I need to do community work to get my parents to give me the money to get it." People should either resist greed, or use it to the advantage of other people. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
and I control the decks
carfilledwithfish
Joined: 18 Jun 2007
Posts: 3988
HP: 88 MP: 7 Lives: 0
|
| Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 1:38 pm
|
|
|
Nothing wrong with a little greed. As you said, without it, no one would get anywhere.
I have ambitions, goals. Everyone does. I'm sure there are plenty with the same goals as me. If I achieve mine first, I might be preventing them from achieving theirs. Is that greedy, or selfish? Maybe. But it doesn't bother me. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
that confounded bridge
Abstract
Vampire
Joined: 26 Jan 2008
Posts: 2521
HP: 82 MP: 10 Lives: 3
|
| Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 2:00 pm
|
|
|
A healthy amount of greed is important for survival. Without greed, there would be no self-preservation, which would mean that the human race wouldn't survive.
Not to say that greed is necessarily a good thing all of the time... it can hurt others; you've got to step on a few heads to get anywhere in life, but some of those heads are going to fall off. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group
|
|
|
