----- Original Message ----- From: "Erik Reuter" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Killer Bs Discussion" <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, April 07, 2005 12:00 PM Subject: Re: New Pope?
> * Dan Minette ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) wrote: > > > A civilization with tremendous personal freedom and minimal physical > > wants is certainly a worthwhile goal. Being willing to work for it, > > even though you won't see it yourself.... > > I'm not so certain. Maybe a way to achieve near-immortality will be > developed in my lifetime. Maybe not, but my options are open. Sure, maybe the horse will learn to sing. :-) > > Many people would think those are good goals only as long as someone > > else is paying for them. > > Perhaps. If everyone acted that way, how long (if ever) would it take to > achieve those goals? A lot longer. But, that has nothing to do with the question at hand. You cannot control everyone, just your own behavior. So, with enlightened self interest as the yardstick, one should only calculate the effects of one's own choices, not the hypothetical assumption that everyone would choose the same way. (One should be free to include the influence one's choice has on others, of course.) Dan M. _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
