Hmm. I think the greater good is drowning you in a pickle barrel. You "good" with that? — tim wood
For me, personally, my beliefs are of a greater good, although I would, again, like to see what you think :smile: — shaq
However, I think tim wood has a point in that your answer suggests the greater good ALWAYS takes priority...which would be problematic — ZhouBoTong
Capitalism, a product of social evolution, is an expression of this hybrid model - individuals behave in a selfish manner yet still end up contributing to the greater good. — Devans99
Behave as selfish as you can get without unnecessarily offending others has always been my motto and this has always served me well. — ovdtogt
Being too selfish is harmful.
Being too altruistic is harmful.
Goldilocks knows best. — ovdtogt
"unnecessarily offending", "too selfish", or "too altruistic", — ZhouBoTong
It is to be hoped that it will come up with a better model than capitalism in due cause. — Devans99
In such matters I just refer to personal choice. How hot does Goldilocks want her porridge? — ovdtogt
Does progressive taxation count as a "natural" model of wealth redistribution? It worked in America in the 1940s and 1950s. I doubt that is what you mean, but all I can think of when it comes to natural is survival of the fittest where the winners take what they want — ZhouBoTong
For the greater good we might decide that no porridge can be over 100 degrees Fahrenheit...but Goldilocks likes it hot. — ZhouBoTong
I think evolution is about survival of the fittest species rather than the fittest individual. — Devans99
So we have socially evolved such that we are superior to other species — Devans99
we recognise that each individual in society is a contributor and we must therefore take care of the weaker members of society. — Devans99
we recognise that each individual in society is a contributor and we must therefore take care of the weaker members of society. — Devans99
I am a believer in progressive taxation but it has to be imposed globally else it just leads to economic refugees. That would require some form of world government... which we are quite a way from achieving. — Devans99
I think evolution is about survival of the fittest species rather than the fittest individual.
— Devans99
Hmmm. I would think it is both...and neither...depending on context. — ZhouBoTong
Evolution wise, it would be difficult to measure "superior" species. Wouldn't organisms that can survive high radiation environments, or the vacuum of space, be at least in some way "superior" to humans? — ZhouBoTong
Nearly every human will have the opportunity to pass on their genes... — ZhouBoTong
Now I am confused...how are the "weaker members of society" being taken care of if not by the government? — ZhouBoTong
So I guess there is an element of both, but I feel over the long term, it is the fittest species that survives - teamwork triumphs over individual efforts. — Devans99
We are living in a knowledge-based economy. The intelligent should have access to greater financial resources - which are required to facilitate reproduction - so the reproduction of the strongest members of society should still be happening. — Devans99
I think you are correct however that we are losing something in evolutionary terms through not embracing a mechanism such as eugenics. Here we are handicapped obviously by the dreadful legacy of WW2. — Devans99
I feel the human race is likely to embrace genetic engineering with a resultant great acceleration in our rate of evolutionary progress. — Devans99
This is what I mean about us being the most successful species - we are evolving not only in the original manner of random genetic mutations - our society and technology is evolving too. — Devans99
Unfortunately, our intelligence gives us access to statistics that tell us the exact opposite is actually true. — ZhouBoTong
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