[MD] The Beginning of it All

[MarshaV]

At 05:02 PM 3/10/2008, you wrote:

> >Ham:
> >If you've read my book, you know that l define morality as "rational
> >self-directed value".  None of us can escape Value: it is primary to all our
> >needing, wanting, loving, and selfish desiring.  All human beings are driven
> >by Value.  As free individuals, we act so as to direct our value to the
> >optimization of experience that fulfills our needs, wants, and desires.  We
> >make our actions "moral" when we apply reason to our value-driven behavior.
> >Morality generally refers to social behavior, that is, giving due
> >consideration to what effect my action will have on others.
>
>There are statements in your book I can agree with, but many I
>cannot.  There is also too much assumption of agreement on underlying
>premises.  I pick up the book to read a few paragraphs and get
>frustrated that it's being assumed I agree with these underlying
>premises.  I do not.


Hi Ham,

I didn't want my comments about your book to be criticism.  I very 
much admire you for writing it. It is a difficult book for me to 
read.  Yet it is beautifully written.  I am not the proper person to 
be considered 'peer review'.  There were those in this forum who 
called for you to submit to such a review.  I wonder where they 
are?  Reading it is slow going, but I am learning new things from reading it.

Respectfully,
Marsha






Shoot for the moon.  Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars...