Government ignoring threat of climate change

by ReSect Watch Fri Feb 17, 2006 16:36

I don't agree with you on selfishness. Anyway I think you are mixing up self interest with selfishness. Marx believed that selfishness being inherrent was something promoted by capitalists. I'm inclined to agree with him and Orwell's observations on the issue.

“There is no reason for thinking that the greed for mere wealth is a permanent human characteristic…after all, if human nature never changes, why is it that we not only don’t practice cannibalism any longer, but don’t even want to?”

by Michael R. Fri Feb 17, 2006 15:49

I dont even "know" if the phone in front of me is acutally there so I certainly do not purport such knowledge about human nature!! But despite the absence of knowledge, I do hold strong "opinions" on it.

By the same token do you purport to know what human nature is?

On the specifics of "selfishness":-

If you come from the scientific approach then you have to look at things like our evolution and natural selection. All point to selfishness in order to survive and pro-create. Certainly the animal kingdom which science claims we have come from it the epitomy of selfishness.

If you come from a religous approach - specifically taking Chrisitian beliefs - the whole of the Christian life is aimed at the "giving up of self". Most christian teachings are hard to follow. The giving up of self being no exception. Thus pointing once again to the selfish nature of man/himself that a Christian tries to battle against.

From an empirical point of view, just simply life observations also seem to point towards selfishness. And selfishness it the bedstone of capitalism which certainly seems to have thrived. Im sure all politicans are accutely aware of people selfishness and in general will adapt their policies to what the "majority" of the "voting" public want. A big part of our job is the protection of the minority and the not voting public.

Which brings me back to my orginal point - that unless people want environmental protection enough, politicians will not adapt their policies accordingly.

Regarding Plato:-

Yes, as I said originally he believed philosophers should be kings - i.e. governers or members of government. And Marx believed the point of philosophy was to change things. So I think they are basically both same the thing. And would you go along with what they are saying??

by ReSect Watch Fri Feb 17, 2006 15:00

"Do you not think humans are naturally selfish?"

Absolutely not. So you purport to know what human nature is?
Plato also believed that the state should be governed by philosophers which of course brings me around neatly to my original point.

by Michael R. Fri Feb 17, 2006 14:27

I thought Morrisson was the philosopher king, or was that just the lizard king : )

Sorry I must be missing something here??? No I did not realize Gates is the philosopher king. Please explain?

Yes the photo’s are powerful now. But will they be powerful enough? Man’s greed for money (whether they be rich or poor) will be an extremely tough adversary.

by Michael R. Fri Feb 17, 2006 14:21

Re: ReSect Watch

Do you not think humans are naturally selfish?

Im a supporter of People Before Profit and have commented on them on this newswire. Don’t know if I am definitely the Michael you are talking about - that’s what the “R” is there for!

What do you find wrong with my analysis viz a viz my support of People before Profit?

Yes I am aware of the views of Marx that you refer to below. He and Plato had a lot of similar thoughts. The big one that comes to mind, and the one that we are all fighting for today, is – Justice.

Regards.

by ReSect Watch Fri Feb 17, 2006 11:48

"And as humans are nauturally selfish this is a big problem."

Are you the same Michael involved in People Before Profit? I hope not with an analyse like above. There was another man who once said something about philosophers and about interpreting the world. Ask Kieran and Richard about him. That's if they haven't forgotten about him.

by hmmmmmm Fri Feb 17, 2006 11:44

they have a tendency to have spent 7 years as wall street CEO's, have perfect teeth, employ a range of researchers and bots, publish books on their vision, and spend most of their days hanging out on either CNN or Fox talking to Bono.
= Have you not realised Bill Gates is the "philosopher king"?
& nothing is going right is it?

But at least the Irish newspaper reader this morning can learn "the boffins got it wrong" and all over the world newspapers publish the first photographs of greenland's mountains without their ice. They really ought be powerful images, those mountains have been shrouded since pre-history when of course they were "green".

by Michael R. Fri Feb 17, 2006 11:18

I sure will email the minister.

But the issue highlights the problem with parlimentary democracy as it currently stands. Reliastically, in its current state, I do not foresee an major changes by the government of this country or of pretty much any country. As industrialization increases, money increases, houses increase, cars increase, population increases etc.etc. I do not but see Irish & World emission levels going up and up.

Under the current setup of parlimentary democracy it will only change when it becomes a big issue with the electorate. It is hard to see it becoming this big issue because it will not really affect people too much in their life time. And as humans are nauturally selfish this is a big problem. EDUCATION or a change in the parlimentary process may be the only hope. But I dont know if even education will be good enough. As a famous Greek philosopher once quoted many moons ago "things willl not go well in this world until Philosophers are Kings or Kings, Philosophers"