Who we are
I am transitioning from a philosophical attitude in which what you are - in a static zen-like quality of being - is more important than what you do, to a more actively defined view of being, in which what you do - your actions - are the primary constituent of what you are.
Along with this, is a change in my concept of economic worth. Much the same as with energy - we can't tell how much energy an object has unless we can detect it changing forms - being active, not potential; we can't tell how much an object is worth unless it is involved in an economic transaction, a deal. As such, an economic transaction, a deal, is the basic element upon which our economy is based. And our economy is defined not by how much intrinsic worth our objects have, but by the activity of the deals they participate in.
I grew up in a culture in which what you were was philosophically valued more highly than what you did - sort of a John Wayne, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Mary Baker Eddy - "God created you this way" concept. Now I'm beginning to think the concept "What have you done for me lately?" is closer to the truth. It is our activity that constitutes who we are.
Along with this, is a change in my concept of economic worth. Much the same as with energy - we can't tell how much energy an object has unless we can detect it changing forms - being active, not potential; we can't tell how much an object is worth unless it is involved in an economic transaction, a deal. As such, an economic transaction, a deal, is the basic element upon which our economy is based. And our economy is defined not by how much intrinsic worth our objects have, but by the activity of the deals they participate in.
I grew up in a culture in which what you were was philosophically valued more highly than what you did - sort of a John Wayne, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Mary Baker Eddy - "God created you this way" concept. Now I'm beginning to think the concept "What have you done for me lately?" is closer to the truth. It is our activity that constitutes who we are.