From: gts (gts@optexinc.com)
Date: Fri Sep 27 2002 - 10:23:44 MDT
Lee Corbin wrote:
> Yes, I can hardly deny that when I visit the doctor and
> he describes some problem I'm having while asleep, that
> I wouldn't object if he said, "while unconscious, you
> are breathing irregularly". Yet it's also true that
> if his assistent spoke up and said, "he means that
> your body is breathing irregularly", then I would
> admit to that too.
Okay, then you agree that your body is not something other than you.
If you do not object to "A = Z" or to "B = Z" then you must agree that
"A = B".
> Yes. I will concede that my personality is made up
> of unconscious motivations and drives in addition to
> the more familiar ones.
Good, then I should hope this trivial argument is over. You've conceded
the obvious, so nothing more need be said. But I below see that you
still feel otherwise.
> Yes, but you see, it's all what I *identify* with that
> is decisive when it comes to determining what is *me*.
> I still maintain that *I* don't have a motive to breathe,
> sorry, and that that misuse of language is *doubtless*
> involved in your opinions (that I still disagree with,
> evidently) about *altruism* and *motivation*.
Evidently you are more interested in words then you are to their
referents.
I have accommodated you at least twice in this respect (substituting
"drive" for "motivation") and substituting "drive to avoid pain" for
"drive to live." And now it seems you wish to continue splitting hairs
along similar lines. But that is not my definition of meaningful debate,
Lee.
> Well, you should breathe much easier now. I have
> conceded that in this phrasing I partly agree (e.g.,
> my doctor's example).
I'm sorry but I see no legitimate reason that you should not *wholly*
agree with the simple proposition that people have a drive a breathe.
Nor do I see any legitimate reason that you should object to the idea
that such basic drives can just as well be called "primitive unconscious
motivations," the term I used initially.
I was far more interested in discussing human motivations for such
things as suicide bombings and altruistic acts, in terms of evolutionary
psychology, but the above debate about whether people have a drive to
breathe is one reason I feel it would be pointless. I like you, Lee, but
I only have so much time in a day to discuss the things that truly
interest me.
-gts
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