Hmm, "What's good for General Motors........"
Depends what you mean by "best for ourselves" Bryan. If you are a truly
enlightened person, all well and good. Someone might have the ontology of a
saint, with the foresight and breadth of wisdom to match (Jesus might have
been the last one who came close).
But ecosystems move over intergenerational timescales, and a mere individual
time scale can justify a little rape and pillage for "the betterment of
ourselves". I don't think your body's "awareness" will extend to these
concepts, or to issues such as each representative of an overpopulated
humanity satisficing itself - for its own individual betterment of course.
I keep looking for the truly enlightened. And I'm not sure I trust
individual Intuition of "good" yet. But then I don't trust the Market or a
supposedly all-wise, non-human Nature as touchstones for action either.
That leaves the God of Reason - and I don't trust THAT either! Well, not
entirely. There is Religion of course. Maybe I'll try that. It
specialises afterall in suspending disbelief, and gives comfort. Come to
think of it unqualified faith in Intuition, the Market, Nature and Reason,
all do that as well.
Religions all?
Then there is Nihilism! Can a faith in Nothing be a religion?
Swiftly moving into reductio ad absurdum territory. Must be the weekend.
Chris Perley
"Let it be" - Lennon/McCartney
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Discussion forum for environmental ethics.
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of spiritwear
> Sent: Saturday, 16 December 2000 09:56
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Solow and "the grandkids"
>
>
> Like Jim, I'm not very "up" on the philosophy of actions towards future
> generations. Indeed, I'm probably far less well-read than he is. My
> philosophy, however, is simple and intuitive:
>
> If we truly do what is best for ourselves (i.e. conscious evolution), we
> simultaneously do what is best for future generations.
>
> As a very simple example, if I tune into my bodily awareness, I
> find that it
> is most healthy for me to eat simple, healthy foods and to not
> overeat. With
> such conscious restraint, there is more plentitude for both
> "others now" and
> "others in the future." I think this would extend to any
> situation. I would
> be happy to hear any counter-arguments.
>
> Bryan
>
|