From: Natasha Vita-More (natasha@natasha.cc)
Date: Tue Jan 11 2000 - 18:31:04 MST
At 09:57 AM 1/11/00 -0800, Max wrote:
>At 07:23 PM 1/10/00 -0600, Eliezer wrote:
>
> >The strong exist to serve the weak, and to the abyss with Ayn Rand.
>Just how do you justify that moral claim?
Haven't we gained from Rand and then moved beyond much of her dictation?
>I say: No one exists to serve anyone. At the same time, everyone is free to
>choose to serve themselves and others or both at the same time (the latter
>usually works best, at least in a market economy).
Yes. I think about this a lot because of an innate desire to be helpful
however realizing this is *not* why I *exist* but is a product of my own
character and sympathy toward other beings and other circumstances apart
from my own. While serving others can be very pleasurable and while I feel
good about holding the door open for the person behind me, or help someone
who appears to be overburdened -- it is still my *choice* and I am not
doing it for brownie points or for credit or for feeling pity toward anyone
or anything. It seems that most or all, perhaps, to oblige or assist
others is done with reciprocity -- a feel good is a valued exchange of time
and attention.
I say: Enjoy serving yourself and if you like, serving others.
Natasha
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