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Politics : Should God be replaced?
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To: Solon who wrote (27075)9/5/2009 3:00:30 PM
From: koan  Read Replies (1) of 28931
 
Two points:

>>So the only human society where hunger and poverty are excluded is a society where FREEDOM is also excluded. We have read novels about those kinds of societies, haven't we??<<

Koan: "The above is true and will be more true in the future. But when you are forced to stop at a red light, aren't you willingly giving up your freedom, as it makes sense to do so ergo there are times when giving up freedom makes sens.

Those times are explored at depth in the social sciences.

I am reading The Story of civilization by Will durant right now. of

Regarding your comments pertaining to the poor below, what you are failing to take into account, IMO, is the power of EDUCATION! If you educate the masses they greatly change and become much more capable of not being poor.

Education is the most effective means known to man to irradicate poverty and increase freedom.

I am very sure of that.

>>Therefore, an ethic of compassion is appropriately at the behest of reason. It seems reasonable to me to support a philosophy of freedom and human reason and to make do the best we can with the poor, the sick, and the afflicted. Rand did not dislike the poor and neither do I. But they are not the "best" example of humanity and they have no claim because (many of them) have nothing to offer of free and mutual value. Their poverty is not a badge of merit. Apparently, in your case they are offering you a sense of meaning and value when they permit you to assist them or protect them in some way, so you are trading a value (perhaps a can of beans and a shirt) for a sense of meaning. I would certainly rather help someone work at unnecessarily tasks for his food than have to feed him (and his jailers) in jail or have him entering my property (or yours) when we are away to steal food and anything else he can turn into food or other values. That is a rational take on providing some social assistance. Then there is innate compassion and benevolence which is the selfish joy I take in being someone capable of making a difference in a human life.Life would be bleak if we chose not to lavish any kindness on anyone.
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