| ??? 03/05/05 19:22 Read: times |
#89172 - Thoughts on life Responding to: ???'s previous message |
Joseph Hebert said:
It seems to me that your position presumes that "mankind" is worth doing something good for. So this is my question. What is mankind, and why should I care a whit about what will or will not benefit him? Has mankind done anything to warrant such benevolent consideration? In my opinion, it's not that mankind deserves such benevolent consideration but that we are all part of mankind and very few of us are self-sufficient which means we depend on others we don't even know. I have asthma and if it wasn't for some scientists--and some wealthy drug companies--that did some research (which they probably enjoyed scientifically and economically), I'd be a in a bad situation. The person/people that made those medical discoveries aren't famous. They're probably people just like you and me but enjoy medical research rather than electronics and programming. But my life is significantly better because of them. In fact, I probably wouldn't even be here if it weren't for them (my asthma was severe as a child... very severe. It's gotten better with age, luckily). As for myself, I could move to New York and knock down a six digit salary, but then I'd have to live in New York. Moreover, I would have to spend all of my waking time doing a job for someone else, having no time left for my family. I agree. And I have in the past rejected job offers without even hearing the salary proposals simply because they would have required that I move east of Dallas (I have drawn a north/south line right around Dallas, east of which I have no interest in moving to). But you don't have to live in New York to do something productive, nor do you have to live in a city to do something that benefits mankind. Here in the middle of Oklahoma I get to spend my time tending cattle, doing my research, raising my sons and spending time with my family. Sounds great! I'd actually like to live in the desert of California but I don't think my wife would go for it. My point is similar. "Mankind," the group, isn't really worth a whole lot. So I don't think I'll concern myself with "mankind." I'll just spend my time worrying about, and enjoying time with, the few that matter to me. That's fine. And my point is that even if you're doing that, you might end up benefiting mankind even if that wasn't your intention or motivation. Regards, Craig Steiner |
| Topic | Author | Date |
| [OT]Is life worth doing all this? | 01/01/70 00:00 | |
| That's a question bordering on religion | 01/01/70 00:00 | |
| Very true | 01/01/70 00:00 | |
| Work - Prison or Place of Destiny? | 01/01/70 00:00 | |
| Answers | 01/01/70 00:00 | |
| Contributing | 01/01/70 00:00 | |
| Liberation | 01/01/70 00:00 | |
| Re: Is life worth doing all this? | 01/01/70 00:00 | |
| The answer is easy | 01/01/70 00:00 | |
| for what | 01/01/70 00:00 | |
| Yes, but | 01/01/70 00:00 | |
| Why? | 01/01/70 00:00 | |
| Thoughts on life | 01/01/70 00:00 | |
| Shhh! Just between you and me, ... | 01/01/70 00:00 | |
| Angels | 01/01/70 00:00 | |
| why care ? | 01/01/70 00:00 | |
| Yes, life is worth doing all this. | 01/01/70 00:00 | |
| my answer is No !! | 01/01/70 00:00 | |
| Eastern minds | 01/01/70 00:00 | |
| seems we are in same boat | 01/01/70 00:00 | |
| seems we are in same boat | 01/01/70 00:00 | |
| My answer is yes ... Farshid | 01/01/70 00:00 | |
| i inisist in my point ! | 01/01/70 00:00 | |
| Dictionary | 01/01/70 00:00 | |
skills and quality of life | 01/01/70 00:00 | |
| I am sorry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! | 01/01/70 00:00 | |
| Eric? | 01/01/70 00:00 |