akoreamerican
Registered Senior Member
Ok you've convinced me, trump is evil.If you think someone is doing substantially more harm than good, on purpose, to serve their own ends at the expense of others, you may consider them evil.
Ok you've convinced me, trump is evil.If you think someone is doing substantially more harm than good, on purpose, to serve their own ends at the expense of others, you may consider them evil.
It was not my intention to convince you of the content of your own previous statement.Ok you've convinced me, trump is evil.
I will thank you all the same, as you have helped me put another doubt to rest in my mind.It was not my intention to convince you of the content of your own previous statement.
My intention was to persuade you to examine the reason and logic of your own statement.
As a minor point of fact, although I have facetiously called him an evil clown, I don't believe that he is evil. I believe he has the intellect and social skills of an overindulged three-year-old, exacerbated by delusions of grandeur and possibly senile dementia.
How can there be too much altruism? If anything, there is not enough altruism in the world.excessive altruism can be detrimental.
In the world, we could use a lot more.How can there be too much altruism? If anything, there is not enough altruism in the world.
Generally, sure. But we were talking about specific acts. The assertion was that specific acts of selfishness are evil. They're not, necessarily.How can there be too much altruism? If anything, there is not enough altruism in the world.
That describes an adult man who will do evil if granted power over others - intentionally, coldbloodedly, and (in his own view) rationally.I believe he has the intellect and social skills of an overindulged three-year-old,
If they don't know any better because they refuse to acknowledge information they possess, we may regard them as responsible for their delusion, and therefore the evil of their doing.If you think someone is doing more harm than good because they don't know any better, you may consider them deluded.
When the evil master they fear is their own status and wellbeing - such as losing their seat in Congress and the perks thereof, or the ability to provide for their families in the style to which they have become accustomed, or the payoff of a deal already made, - we may consider them cowardlyIf you think someone is doing more harm than good because they're afraid to disobey an evil master, you may consider them cowardly.
In the world, we could use a lot more.
Kind of like blood and organ donations.
But it really wouldn't be good for the donors if the 'more' came from the same people who already give as much as they safely can.
You are both right. When someone asks money from me I have to consider, do these people look honest? Is giving them money the best way to help them? When in doubt, I do not, and I do not let my doubts bother me unless it is proven otherwise.Generally, sure. But we were talking about specific acts. The assertion was that specific acts of selfishness are evil. They're not, necessarily.
If one doesn't take the time to look after oneself sufficiently, that can have consequences.
The Social Contract is a balance - between looking out for others, and looking out for oneself.
- If you are in a busy train station during the morning crush, and you hold the door open for literally everyone, you will quite possibly miss your train.
- When the cabin pressure on a plane drops, and oxygen masks deploy, if you try to put someone else's mask on first (say, your children), you may pass out, risking both your lives. That's why they tell you to put your own on first.
- If you are lost in a desert, and there's too little water to go around, so you give it all away... etc.
I assume you mean a loan of money.You are both right. When someone asks money from me I have to consider, do these people look honest? Is giving them money the best way to help them? When in doubt, I do not, and I do not let my doubts bother me unless it is proven otherwise.
I don't mean a loan. Yes, I suppose when in doubt I should give the benefit of a doubt, unless proven otherwise. I would say it is relevant if they are lying or not because if I give them money while they're lying, it encourages them to lie to get free money. It's also relevant if it's good for them or not, because if just give them money, it's not actually helping the situation. I admit I should consider my own financial situation as well, I would not be giving money out in sacrifice of my own well being.I assume you mean a loan of money.
If you're just giving them money, then it is irrelevant whether they're honest or not - and, arguably - irrelevant whether it's for their own good or not.
If you're planning on giving them money, what does it matter what reason they give?I don't mean a loan. Yes, I suppose when in doubt I should give the benefit of a doubt, unless proven otherwise.
I'm with akoreamerican on this matter.DaveC426913 --- If you're planning on giving them money, what does it matter what reason they give? Do you have a special sentimental attachment to those dollar bills, that you care about their well-being after they've left you?
In Rome, as in other ancient civilization (as well as earlier primitive societies), exposure was a standard disposal of unwanted babies. Usually, there was a known depository where childless women could go foraging, as it were - so the unwanted infants might have a slim chance.when ancient Rome ruled in Israel (not looking at the Romans in particular) there was unearthed an area where new born baby remains where found in that red light district. Unharmed but more like tossed and left to die.
I ... thought we were talking about homeless people and the like...I'm with akoreamerican on this matter.
I'm not crazy about some of the ways my tax money is spent, but I have no choice in the matter; the only way I can limit the actions of my government is through voting - and that makes me liable to a good deal of involuntary guilt by association.
I mentioned taxation only in contrast to voluntary money-giving, that we have some control over.I ... thought we were talking about homeless people and the like...![]()