Comments on: Too much focus on self is selfish? http://shanglee.com/blog/2006/06/25/too-much-focus-on-self-is-selfish/ Thank you for reading Tue, 21 Jun 2011 05:40:47 +0000 hourly 1 By: moongster http://shanglee.com/blog/2006/06/25/too-much-focus-on-self-is-selfish/comment-page-1/#comment-191 moongster Tue, 27 Jun 2006 05:54:02 +0000 http://shanglee.com/blog/2006/06/25/too-much-focus-on-self-is-selfish/#comment-191 Actually, the problem can be solved fundamentally. x^2 = x * x, y^2 = y * y So, although x^2 = y^2, it does not imply x = y. Hence, although the result of (improving one self) = the result of (selfish), (improving one self) is not equal to (selfish), hehe. One more thing, “Good people will do Good, Evil people will do Evil, but only religion can make Good people do Evil.” => And religion can make Bad people do Good. :) Actually, the problem can be solved fundamentally.

x^2 = x * x, y^2 = y * y

So, although x^2 = y^2, it does not imply x = y.

Hence, although the result of (improving one self) = the result of (selfish), (improving one self) is not equal to (selfish), hehe.

One more thing,
“Good people will do Good, Evil people will do Evil, but only religion can make Good people do Evil.”
=> And religion can make Bad people do Good. :)

]]> By: Shang Lee http://shanglee.com/blog/2006/06/25/too-much-focus-on-self-is-selfish/comment-page-1/#comment-190 Shang Lee Tue, 27 Jun 2006 01:35:22 +0000 http://shanglee.com/blog/2006/06/25/too-much-focus-on-self-is-selfish/#comment-190 moongster, u are assuming Positive and Negative activities are multiplicative. the only consistent tangible multiplicative example i know of is compound interest!! otherwise, they are all additive, i.e. x + x = 2x = 2, y + y = 2y = -2. It's still a zero sum game. ;) moongster, u are assuming Positive and Negative activities are multiplicative. the only consistent tangible multiplicative example i know of is compound interest!! otherwise, they are all additive, i.e.

x + x = 2x = 2, y + y = 2y = -2. It’s still a zero sum game. ;)

]]> By: moongster http://shanglee.com/blog/2006/06/25/too-much-focus-on-self-is-selfish/comment-page-1/#comment-189 moongster Mon, 26 Jun 2006 14:24:25 +0000 http://shanglee.com/blog/2006/06/25/too-much-focus-on-self-is-selfish/#comment-189 Many problems start from not taking care and responsibility of oneself. That aside, I think your argument is flawed fundamentally. Take this maths example as an illustration - I know you like maths haha. If x = 1, y = -1, and x^2 = 1, y^2 = 1, Therefore, x^2 = y^2 => x = y !!! Improving oneself is being socially responsible, hence, is NOT selfish at all! Many problems start from not taking care and responsibility of oneself.

That aside, I think your argument is flawed fundamentally. Take this maths example as an illustration – I know you like maths haha.

If x = 1, y = -1, and x^2 = 1, y^2 = 1,
Therefore, x^2 = y^2 => x = y !!!

Improving oneself is being socially responsible, hence, is NOT selfish at all!

]]> By: wujimon http://shanglee.com/blog/2006/06/25/too-much-focus-on-self-is-selfish/comment-page-1/#comment-188 wujimon Mon, 26 Jun 2006 12:56:22 +0000 http://shanglee.com/blog/2006/06/25/too-much-focus-on-self-is-selfish/#comment-188 Great article and brings up a lot of points on the "true source" of altruism, which is quite a common debate in psychology. This kind of also reminds me of some buddhist thought regarding the 4-noble truths and how suffering is eliminated by reducing desire, yet at the same time, one has to "desire" to reduce desire ;) Overall, I agree with your points and personally, I chose to "start with the man in the mirror" :) Great article and brings up a lot of points on the “true source” of altruism, which is quite a common debate in psychology.

This kind of also reminds me of some buddhist thought regarding the 4-noble truths and how suffering is eliminated by reducing desire, yet at the same time, one has to “desire” to reduce desire ;)

Overall, I agree with your points and personally, I chose to “start with the man in the mirror” :)

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