On Jul 23, 6:39 pm, Art
zilch.com> wrote:> On Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:10:54 -0700 (PDT), ta
nc.rr.com>
> wrote:
>>>Humans (and other primates) apparently have an innate sense of
>>fairness. For example:
>
>
>
>>Given the vastly disproportionate distribution of material wealth in
>>the world, isn't it reasonable to conclude that the Bill Gates and
>>Warren Buffets of the world engage in philanthropy because
>>subconsciously they feel tremendous guilt at the obvious disparities
>>between themselves and the rest of the world?
>
> Not necessarily.
Ok. But possibly, right?
>>Similarly, isn't it equally reasonable to conclude that we middle/
>>upper middle class folk donate money to charities and such because we
>>too can't ignore the subconscious pangs of guilt generated from the
>>obvious disparities between ourselves and the poor?
>
> Not necessarily. People give to charities for a variety of reasons.
> Some religious folk simply believe it's their duty since their
> priests and ministers tell them it is. Some are motivated not by
> guilt or a sense of fairness but out of empathy and sincere
> concern and love for others.
Ok, but how would you know with any degree of certainty the private
thoughts of invdividuals? What if "empathy" and "sincere concern" are
actually rooted in the guilt associated with the innate sense of
injustice?
>>Or perhaps another way to ask the question is: aren't these great
>>disparities in material wealth "unnatural", in the sense that they
>>conflict with our innate sense of fairness?
>
> You a communist or sumthin? :) (Just kidding)
>
> Seriously, do you really believe that people raised under
> capitalism are all that concerned about unequal distributions
> of wealth or the fact that many in their own country are
> below poverty level?
I believe that all human beings have an innate sense of fairness, and
I also believe that human beings have built-in defense mechanisms
(denial, avoidance) that allow them to "live with themselves".
> Never listened to right wing radio
> and the rants about how poor people are just lazy?
Humans are great rationalizers. But that doesn't mean that
subconsciously that sense of fairness is not still intact. I believe
that those who rationalize away these instincts pay the price,
emotionally, in one way or another. Hidden below the surface of our
outward behaviour that innate sense of fairness still lurks . . . I
think.
