My personal variation:
Give a man a fish today, and he will still be hungry tomorrow.
Teach a man to fish, and he will say, why can't you give me another fish?
thus spake Maxathrustra.
ravi wrote:
On Oct 20, 2008, at 11:42 AM, David B. Shemano wrote:
Ravi writes:
Remember that old patronising conservative bit about giving a man a
fish, etc?
I believe that "old patronising conservative bit" is a paraphrase of
Maimonides (http://www.charitywatch.org/articles/eightrungs.html), so
are you saying that Maimonides was a conservative as we now think of
conservatives? Was the "bit" a good idea in a pre-capitalist society,
but became patronizing in a capitalist society?
The linked to web page lists a ladder of increasing virtue when it comes
to "giving". Some (perhaps me!) would argue that "giving" is indeed a
"conservative" idea i.e., that we live in an environment where many are
in need of the "charity" of others. And with regards to Maimonides
ladder, I do think that #8 has an internal logical error, and it
contradicts the implication of #1 -- (a) the assumption that human
beings are or can be "self-reliant", and (b) if one is to give without
grudge and without imposing shame on the recipient, then one should not
make the assumption that one knows best or needs to judge how another
can become "self-reliant". That's his or her quest.
--ravi
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