Hi Mark, The problem with religion, no matter how ethically sound it may be, once created and accepted as an ideal, immediately creates an elite when a particular social organization is considered more preferable than the rest. No matter how remarkable the moral basis, it still amounts to potential conflict through the creation of an artificial form of ethical inequality.
In this proposal you mention self interest often. I think the concept of self-interest is rather distasteful. No one can have a sense of self without knowing one is separate in some sense from others. So, without others: no self and without self: no others. Just as Libertarians view the collective as bunk, I also think the concept of self is hot air, a fantasy land, something not to place too much stock in. I think it's probably more universally preferred and less harmful to describe the interests themselves rather than the ego's (the conceptual self) or the organizational ego's (the idea that a group has a face) interpretations of the interests at hand. I think having an ego is okay given it's not taken too seriously. If an ego of any kind is taken seriously, division occurs, and when division occurs, inequality is more perceivable, and therefore conflict is more likely to arise in one form or another against the noted position. I have some trouble with the concept of Friendliness. If I where to have a qualm with a research partner on a certain calculation—left unresolved—any "friendliness" exhibited would be insincere and passive-aggressive, potentially harmful and conflictive, though people behave in this way often as a short term defensive move. Nathan On Fri, Mar 14, 2008 at 12:29 PM, Mark Waser <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Actually, the same solution as last time -- just massively rephrased. > (Note: This is again a double-post because I think that it is *so* > completely different and I apologize to those receiving duplicates) > > = = = = = = = = = = > > Hi. I'm Mark Waser and I would like to introduce you to a new religion. > > > > This religion has changed my life. It has given me new power to direct my > life and has dramatically increased my happiness. I believe that it can > do the same thing for you. > > > > This religion is very easy to practice, never conflicts with your own > personal self-interest, and even allows you to keep your current religion. > > > > To join this religion requires only two simple things: > > - To declare that you are a member of this religion AND > - To act like you are a member of this religion > > > > This religion has only five fundamental beliefs: > > - You should not interfere with other people unless it is in your > TRUE self-interest to do so > - Interfering with other people SOLELY for personal enjoyment, > money, power, or other similar things that people compete for is NOT in > your > true self-interest > - Because everyone can make mistakes, it is NOT in your true > self-interest to interfere with other people SOLELY because **you**believe > that it is in * > *their** self-interest that you do so (because people **should** be > allowed to make their own mistakes) > - Because everyone has different beliefs about whether God exists or > what God wants (and you could therefore be wrong), it is NOT in your true > self-interest to interfere with other people SOLELY because of what you > believe that God wants > - It is in everyone's best interest to spread this religion > > > > The name of this religion is **Friendliness* *(or, it can be referred to > as the Friendly religion). Members of this religion are called > Friendly/Friendlies. > > > > I am a member and would very much like to talk to you further about this > religion if you are interested. > > > > Thank you **very** much for your time and attention. > > > = = = = = = = = = = > Vision/Slogan -- Friendliness: The Ice-9 of Ethics and Ultimate in > Self-Interest > ------------------------------ > *agi* | Archives <http://www.listbox.com/member/archive/303/=now> > <http://www.listbox.com/member/archive/rss/303/> | > Modify<http://www.listbox.com/member/?&;>Your Subscription > <http://www.listbox.com> > ------------------------------------------- agi Archives: http://www.listbox.com/member/archive/303/=now RSS Feed: http://www.listbox.com/member/archive/rss/303/ Modify Your Subscription: http://www.listbox.com/member/?member_id=8660244&id_secret=95818715-a78a9b Powered by Listbox: http://www.listbox.com
