Duality of Choice

your thoughts betray you, father...but, um, your feelings do too.

check out this video for an example of this "action from fantasy" stuff. You might be surprised. It's not all about holocausts and genocide. It's actually just a music video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0ykm1v9xbU&feature=rec-HM-r2

Listen to the lyrics. You'll get what I mean.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• choice
• good
• evil

[BLvcdrumSW]

you said that some actions are motivated by desire rather than reason. would you agree that ALL actions are motivated by desire (as in, reason may inform our decision but ultimately it's desire that makes the call)?

[jericomovie]

sure,

though we can pursue desire in spite of reason, that's the bad part

[stefanlittle]

How do you think they are different? I don't really buy the communion with reality thing.... unless you can explain that differently. As I texted before, they both want a different future reality...

[jericomovie]

reduction vs adding : reducing an ethnic group vs the small pox virus makes that notion irresolute.

"the value ascribed to the action by others"...aaaaaah. let's talk value some other time.

to answer your question

It's a matter of motivation. Personal fantasy and delusional feelings of super-importance is motivation from the personal, hopeful desire I mention in the video, and is also sung about in the music video that I linked to. perhaps that would help give a better idea.

[jim30333]

Hitler was actually supported by the US as the moderate candidate in 1938.

[yikeswood]

why is it """"evreybody even germans"""""""are first instict to call hitler evil... but shakespeare? einstein? etc...it is because the truth... is hidden from us...there are philosophical???if not philosophers who shape our perception of history as sheep we must be instincual and call this good or this bad...though its hard to see there truth...we as wannabe philosophers should take into account the opposite view of history...if not only for the art of war....then for art it self

[stefanlittle]

Yes but the motivation is judged based on shared concepts of value and values...

[jim30333]

I live in the Hamptons right now. I just traded my 7 Hummers in for another house which I am going to donate to a small species of Mexican Chihuahuas. Sometimes, you just have to cut back. The feeling that it gives me will be smaller than donating to the Ayn Rand Institute and $5000 in taxes I payed over the last 8 years. But I guess I'll just travel around more and take up sailing. And all the resorts are sooo....vacant!

[gerontodon]

I think that in Buddhist terms, Hitler was identifying with a false self, made up of his own (false)self-serving theories, whilst the scientist knows that his real self is not separate from anyone or anything 'other'. Some people see that reasoning as a bit wet - as if it's a reccomendation to be a cipher. I don't think that's really it, but it can seem like that, or even be partially meant like that, if it's not understood - which I don't think I totally do. It's my take anyway.

[stefanlittle]

The differences, based on the outcomes that can be observed (very simplified to principles):

1) reduction vs. adding to the world.

2) the value ascribed to the action by others

Sounds small, but all world changing actions have massive and subtle effects on the future. Number 2 is all we really have in so many ways. Eradication of smallpox is considered a good thing, right? Now what is smallpox was sentient? Big change is big... really smart sounding, eh? :P