by BigTex » Mon 02 Jun 2008, 23:14:01
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Iaato', 'T')ex, I usually agree with you, but I've got a problem with the apparent "if it feels good do it" orientation of Harry Browne. The look after yourself philosophy only works in a system where a rising tide is floating all boats, and someone else will look after the needy (if there even are any). I think the arguments for this approach break down in a period of descent. During a period of excess resources, compassion/support for others is not essential for continuation of the community. One can also argue that it is way too easy to have compassion during a period of excess resources; it will be interesting to see how much hypocrisy there really is when people in this country start to become really hungry.
Citing Harry Browne as an example, he was a humble, funny and really caring person. He was simply realistic about why he did the things he did--i.e., because they brought HIM happiness.
I aspire to be a generous, kind, fair, and empathetic person. Why? Because I like the way I feel when I do those things. Is that selfish? Of course it is, just like everything any of us do. Would I suffer for someone I cared about? Sure. Why? Because the sacrifice would be satisfying. Would I make the same sacrifice for a stranger? Probably not. Why not? Because the sacrifice would not be satisfying. Stated differently, I place greater VALUE on sacrificing for those I care about than for strangers.
I have yet to see any satisfactory argument for why this is not a relatively straightforward way of describing why people act as they do--i.e., it is in their self-interest to do so.
I think this is what enlightenment is really all about--seeing how helping others is actually more satisfying than only helping yourself, and yet not having illusions about what your motives are.
There is nothing wrong with making your own happiness your first priority. The problem arises when you are not mature enough to understand that pursuing your own happiness in a world filled with other people seeking THEIR own happiness will require you to make allowances for the needs and desires of others. This is, to me, the difference between a child and an adult and that's how you get to the point of deeply respecting other people, no matter how dumb, misguided or foolish they may seem. You understand that they are sincerely seeking what they believe will bring them happiness, and you really have no way of knowing how good a job they are doing, since the only measure of their success lies in their purely subjective experience of the things that happen to them. When you look at others through this filter, there is less impatience, less frustration, less anger and less hatred. You stop judging them by your standards, and when you realize you CAN'T judge them by their standards (because you have no way of knowing what those standards are), you realize, INTELLECTUALLY (and not morally), why judging others is a dead end. It accomplishes nothing. It doesn't change their behavior, it doesn't deepen your understanding of why they are doing what they are doing, but it DOES compromise your ability to react appropriately to what others are doing.
Another benefit of looking at things in this way is that you are able to create strong relationships with others because you understand that every good relationship must be a mutual exchange that is viewed as valuable by each party. Thus, you focus on what you have to offer others, rather than solely focusing on what others have to offer you. You realize that there are no real relationships that are truly one-sided. The ones that look to be one-sided are often just complex interactions of a mentally ill person and an enabler, but they are both involved because they like what they get out of it.
As for societal standards, of course there should be many of the same laws we currently have. Allowing people to pursue their happiness can't be a pretext for antisocial behavior and it must be punished just as it is now. I'm not suggesting a state of anarchy.
One of the unexpected benefits of this view of the world is that you learn to respect yourself more because you realize when you make sacrifices for others you are doing it because it makes YOU feel good; thus, there is no resentment on your part and no sense that the person you are helping "owes" you because you did something for them. You realize that you made the sacrifice just because you wanted to, and this eliminates resentment and a sense that there is now possibly a debt to you that needs to be repaid.
You also learn to respect others more, for the reasons I outlined above. This respect easily leads to compassion, since compassion is really just a type of empathy, and you empathize with others as soon as you stop judging them.
I have compassion for all people, and it's not hard at all. I get annoyed with people, sometimes I get mad, but mostly I just feel a strong sense of empathy with everyone I encounter. Would this keep me from acting violently toward them if necessary? Of course not. Would it cause me to share food with them if I was starving? Maybe, but it would depend on who it was, how I felt about them, etc. It would be a decision driven by my own self-interest. Would it cause me ever not to act in a tough minded manner? No.
The finest expression of emotion is, to me, one that is not based upon sentimentality or pity, but on fairness, empathy and enlightened self-interest.
I find the Golden Rule to be a great guide because it is in my self-interest to treat others as I would have them treat me, in part because I have no basis for asking anyone for anything if I would not do the same for them if the positions were reversed.
I believe if people were more realistic about their real motivations, the world would be a kinder place, not a colder place. What makes it cold is people doing "selfless" acts through gritted teeth and carrying around a load of emotional scar tissue from the bitterness of sacrifices they didn't want to make, but felt compelled to, and the guilt at wanting to pursue their own happiness but feeling like it was wrong to do so.
Just my take on things, though. Everyone is looking at the world through their own window and this may not make any sense to anyone but me, but I find compassion to be one of the most worthwhile ways of spending my energy and not at all inconsistent with acting in my own self-interest.
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