People with ambition and determination rarely elevate their nations unless forced to, — ernestm
What are you referring to?Then the nation falls behind others and the leadership is usually deposed by revolution — ernestm
don't seen much point in arguing the point, because its main proponent, Rand, — ernestm
Agree? — frank
t's also important to recall that all human motives are rooted in the pleasure principle. If a society spends much of its resources making life comfortable for the weak and wretched, this will diminish the impetus towards self-improvement in the population.
This is just basic psychology. — frank
assume you are trotting out this curdled milk of human kindness cheese dip as a devil's advocate exercise. The idea is that there is only so much goodness to go around, and if it isn't lavished on the people we like, then we are wasting it. — Bitter Crank
By "strong," I mean creative individuals with ambition and determination. By rewarding such individuals with wealth and power, society in general becomes leaner and fitter.
Opposition to this view is essentially an anti-life ethic which promotes mercy and pity over greatness.
Agree?
@Terrapin Station? — frank
If you want to rather arbitrarily attach ambition, striving, resilience and opportunity taking to anyone; give it to the poor saps who should flourish under this ideal of resilience and adaptation but do not. — fdrake
How are we determining "fit," "great," etc.? — Terrapin Station
Opposition to this view is essentially an anti-life ethic which promotes mercy and pity over greatness. — frank
What you're opposed to, apparently - and I credit you as not actually yourself espousing this view - is civilization. The reality is that no thinking person is opposed to civilization and its bene-fits. We just acknowledge that so seemingly simple a thing seems difficult for people to understand and attain - or keep. — tim wood
The Frodos of the world are truly amazing, but they apparently need a Lord of the Rings to provide them with something to overcome. So does this argue for or against the lords? — frank
Get involved in philosophical discussions about knowledge, truth, language, consciousness, science, politics, religion, logic and mathematics, art, history, and lots more. No ads, no clutter, and very little agreement — just fascinating conversations.