From: Natasha Vita-More (natasha@natasha.cc)
Date: Sat Nov 20 1999 - 13:23:22 MST
At 11:55 PM 11/16/99 EST, Glen Finney wrote:
> I have been thinking lately about the whole selfish vs selfless debate,
>and about how both sides seem to me to be missing something. I used to
>preach what I referred to as benevolent self-interest (yes this is very
>similar to certain ideas in venturism and extrosattvaism), but even that
>seems less than complete of a description now to me.
I understand you sentiment in this post and was swayed by its mellifluous
tone.
At a time when the overcoming death is the war cry in the battle on
disease, it seems that the common sense perspective would require one to be
self-aware and self-protective. If the mission is to overcome death and
enhance our humanness, the element of collaborative cooperation is
imperative to achieving the goal and winning the battle. In that I see
this directive - overcoming diseases and the finality of death - as the
foundation for our future as transhumanists, the concerns of selfishness
vs. altruism seem to loose momentum. I believe you express this sentiment
below:
>I believe that the most important quality in the universe is self. But
>not my self alone. (snip) I believe in
>responsibilities of proximity and scale and competence. (snip)
As you, I find altruism hanging on a coat rack in an antiqued chamber.
Kindness is more available and capable of bringing a positive result,
especially in a transhumansit spirituality, and also self esteem works
nicely with self-responsibility.
Cheers!
Natasha
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