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Pastimes : THE SLIGHTLY MODERATED BOXING RING
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To: Solon who wrote (12588)5/10/2002 2:29:55 PM
From: one_less  Read Replies (1) of 21057
 
I hope I have addressed your concerns. Lets look then at the basis for your other inquiries.

Me: "The closest descriptor that I can come up with, at the moment, is “the beneficent.” This term describes a being who is kind, charitable, and considerate."

Solon: Well, that is fine. But how can you have such attributes without having desire? If you do not desire improvement or happiness...how can you will such change? If your will is not based on the motive of desire...then what is the motive?

Lets pick one characteristic, "Charitable."

When we associate other human qualities with the act of being charatable we can assume several things. What is the "desirable" out come that the human being had in mind, which may have motivated the charatable act. Perhaps it was to improve the situation in the community. So, by giving in a charitable way, the giver hopes the reciever of charity becomes a more solid citizen within the community. This is a noble motive since everyone in the community benefits by this action.

The giver of charity is motivated as described above and a beneficiary along with the other community members by having a more stable community to live in. How else does the giver benefit. The self esteme of the giver may be improved by knowing that they have acted in a kind way toward someone in need. The status of the giver may be raised in the eyes of the community members as a person of high morality. The status of the giver may also be seen as someone who is able to wield an influence in the community that effects the living conditions of other members. Depending on the extent of charitable acts performed by the giver this person may be viewed as having significant power to contribute (or not) to the success of community members. It may therefore be concluded, that such a person who is recognized by the community membership at large may have obtained positions of power to direct the community affairs in a way that returns significant personal benefit. They could even use their elevated status to obtain a beneficial outcome where other men would not. The recent issues of protections afforded to Priests violating boys is a case in point.

So, in conclusion: Where charity can be associated with motive, there also is the contagion related to the returns to the giver of charity. Perfect charity would be an act without an expectation of return benefit. (definitely non-human)
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