Quote:
Originally Posted by jamestl2  I’m not saying that people who think greed is bad are communist, but without it where is the motivation? Enlightened Self-Interest is just not enough to make a difference for people these days |
That's exactly the kind of thinking which has lead us to increasing GNP but decreasing happiness and increasing suicide rates. Could you elaborate?
I think the main issue here is that those who are pro-greed, define greed in similar way to which those who are anti-greed define enlightened self-interest. But each of us see the other side as anathema, and so find it difficult to see those similarities.
I read your list James, and I think all of the positives come from an attitude of enlightened self-interest. For example Bill Gate's generousity could not be anything to do with greed, IMO, because greed
requires benefiting oneself
more than others. I see it as an act of enlightened self-interest, because it a) would make him happy to be doing something truly worthwhile with his money, b) it improves others' opinion of him which will certainly benefit him, and c) it benefits others in a greater measurable way than it benefits him. The way I see greed, b) would be irrelevant, and c) would be unacceptable.
Maybe I'd better understand your point of view if you explained how you saw enlightened self-interest.
{edit: It just occurred to me, enlightened greed would be a more agreeable term, if defined as a driving desire which takes into account, and
strives to avoid the detrimental effects it's expression could have.}