[MD] Altruism

[ian glendinning]

I'm with Horse, in that wedlock is an irrelevance to this debate.

Stability is an issue though, some static institutions (like a family)
help (nurture) during periods of rapid change (growing up) rather than
leave offspring to face all dynamic risks (nature). Life's just
complicated enough.

Ian

On 9/28/06, pholden at davtv.com <pholden at davtv.com> wrote:
> Quoting Horse <horse at darkstar.uk.net>:
>
> > Hi Platt
> >
> > Just a couple of points:
> >
> > On 27 Sep 2006 at 17:31, Platt Holden wrote:
> >
> > > > [Platt]
> > > > It's always amazed me that someone could be so egoistic as to think she
> > > > knows what would be good for somebody else.
> >
> > A doctor kills a germ and saves a patient.
> > A parent makes their child eat healthy food.
> >
> > Why would you be amazed at either of the above?
>
> I wouldn't. A doctor invests a lifetime in learning how not to harm another and
> follows the principle of "First, do no harm." A parent and a child have a special
> relationship beyond the context of my assertion. The assumption underlying debate
> here is that we're taling about adult behavior.
>
> > > Yes, I should have qualified my statement. Charity is OK by me in the
> > > case of natural disaster to help people get back on their feet. But,
> > > there is overwhelming evidence that long-term public altruism creates
> > > dependency and anti-social behavior like out-of-wedlock pregnancies.
> >
> > Out-of-wedlock pregnancies are anti-social?? Which century are we talking about
> > here? Anti-
> > social behaviour is behaviour that harms society. Societies need people,  people
> > are created
> > through pregnancy. In or out of wedlock is irrelevant.
>
> Craig had a good response to this. Wish I had thought of it.
>
> Great to hear from you!
>
> Platt
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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