Hi Mike, On Nov 17, 2011, at 6:12 AM, Mike Gonzalez wrote: > Really, isn't being enamored with our own greatness a state of > reflection that proceeds from an uncritical view of our situation? We > have these (depending on your view) god-given or evolutionary > abilities that allow us to create and improve, and it would be > horrifically wasteful to not utilize them.
I agree. We must make some sort of predictions, in order merely to function. The reason I harp on betting is to encourage -humility- and -accountability- in public pronouncements, because words do have a power to shape the future. > Of course, I don't > necessarily agree with the utilitarian belief that happiness is the > end-goal, either. I still think there has to be some ultimate > satisfaction that exists beyond happiness, for when we finally work up > to our potential both as individuals and a society. Well said. My current best candidate for a superior alternative to "happiness" as a metric is "significance": Mar 28, 2011 DrErnie: The greatest gift of the #prefuture is to nurturesignificance, which is why contempt is the worst crime. Mar 28, 2011 DrErnie: Ordinary people routinely give up happiness for the sake of significance. Only addicts do the reverse. Saints trade external for internal. https://twitter.com/#!/DrErnie/status/52359987007209472 The thirst for significance may be the most fundamental, powerful, dangerous, and overlooked human motivation. Beyond sex, money, happiness Significantly yours, -- Ernie P. -- Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community <[email protected]> Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/RadicalCentrism Radical Centrism website and blog: http://RadicalCentrism.org
