Dan Fabulich wrote:
> > Dan, this ignores my question - if I pay money to give my child an education
> > what financial reward do I get in return?
This is so self-evident to any civilized and intelligent person that I don't see any need to qualify my statement as "my opinion."
> The whole PREMISE of this question is faulty. People don't act so as to
> get financial rewards, they act for UTILITY rewards. However, we should
> not expect that everything we do is done so as to acquire more money.
> This claim is obviously false.
While I might argue a bit about this generalization of Bentham and Mill to every human situation, what is important is that you find it necessary to make this statement to a presumably intelligent and refined audience.
> -unless you love someone-
> -nothing else makes any sense-
> e.e. cummings
May I just add that unless one is a sociopath, the affirmation of one's moral choices by a conscience that says: "Well done, good and faithful servant" should suffice. And one very good way to receive this enhancement of self-esteem is, when appropriate, to subordinate your own needs to the welfare of others whose lives might contain less "quiet despair", and more faith in themselves, more hope for a better future, as a result of your effort. Isn't this the mission of Extropians? Surely you don't believe that "when the ship is sinking, it's every man for himself".
Bob