A splendid article about the intellectual poison of today

[fpb]

Six years ago, an elderly philosopher wrote this article. It is long, but so much to the point and so good that I reproduce it whole.

Comments

[patchworkmind]

Ooooh. Nicely done.

I don't agree with it wholeheartedly, as I am a fan of markets. However, I like genuine, voluntary markets -- not markets created by the likes of the IMF. As you know, I am a firm beliver -- and lamenter of -- human nature.

[super_pan]

Personally, I do think being happy is important. But I do know that it is gift that I have, having all my needs met, and a disposition that allows for happiness. And then I'm happy anticipating getting something else. But I agree that happiness isn't the same as having every desire being sated, and new desires being created all the time. And the demand for constant and immediate satisfaction hasn't really made people (I guess I'm speaking of Americans) happy, or well. Or moral.

And then I'm happy anticipating getting something else.

[super_pan]

That went with a sentence that I cut, and so makes no sense.

[patchworkmind]

Are cooperation and competition mutually exclusive?

[fpb]

In the religion we are speaking of they are.

[patchworkmind]

Ah. Okay. Between the post and replies I reckon I'm having a hard time delineating between those who agree with the religion (as a good thing) versus those who disagre with it (believing it to be a bad thing).

I asked the question because of the line in the reply I replied to: "Everything that Mankind has achieved was a work of cooperation, not competition." I disagree with that.