The Pathological Altruist

tapu · 10-07-2011, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoNotHer

I am familiar with the laws of thermodynamics and the concept of entropy. I am trying to understand the specific connection being made and conclusions being drawn here between altruism, thermodynamics and the lifeboat question.

Let me try: You can't win for losin'. The good you may do is always canceled out by the bad that is collateral.

I'm working with the terms as defined in the article; point of fact, I agree with you that altruism is used as jargon here, apparently, and not in its customary sense.

SoNotHer · 10-07-2011, 07:41 AM

[QUOTE=tapu;433197]Let me try: You can't win for losin'. The good you may do is always canceled out by the bad that is collateral."

Quite a leap it makes then. I saw a more gently and beautifully laid (yes, please do 'leap" on that entendre) argument in Tom Stoppard's play, Arcadia. Highly recommended.

And yes, I think jargon is a poor substitute for "The Real Thing," to play off of another Stoppard title.

tapu · 10-07-2011, 07:51 AM

[quote=SoNotHer;433206]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tapu

Let me try: You can't win for losin'. The good you may do is always canceled out by the bad that is collateral."

Quite a leap it makes then. I saw a more gently and beautifully laid (yes, please do 'leap" on that entendre) argument in Tom Stoppard's play, Arcadia. Highly recommended.

And yes, I think jargon is a poor substitute for "The Real Thing," to play off of another Stoppard title.

Did she just come on to me...?

SoNotHer · 10-07-2011, 07:54 AM

[quote=tapu;433214]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoNotHer

Did she just come on to me...?

No. But I did inject humor and word play into the discussion.

tapu · 10-07-2011, 07:59 AM

[quote=SoNotHer;433217]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tapu

No. But I did inject humor and word play into the discussion.

Got it.

Joking aside:

Can you explain how it is "quite a leap" to say that altruism (here = its products, i'm thinking) can lead (inadvertently, of course) to bad that cancels out that good?

Sorry, I know Stoppard only by name so that may be the source of misunderstanding that leads to my question above.

SoNotHer · 10-07-2011, 08:01 AM

[quote=tapu;433219]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoNotHer

Got it. Joking aside:

Can you explain how it "quite a leap" saying that altruism (assigned a value of good) can lead (inadvertently, which I think is the claim) to bad that cancels out that good?

Since I need to leave for work, I'll pass the onus to you to explain how the triangulation or yoking together of these three things is a natural and inevitable conclusion and not a leap.

tapu · 10-07-2011, 08:05 AM

Got it.
.
.
.

10-07-2011, 08:05 AM	#7
tapu Senior Member How Do You Identify?: Understated butch. Preferred Pronoun?: I Relationship Status: Party of One Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Maine Posts: 1,654 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 1,324 Thanked 3,115 Times in 1,103 Posts Rep Power: 21474852	Got it. . . . __________________ Really? That's not funny to you? Last edited by tapu; 10-07-2011 at 08:08 AM.

10-07-2011, 07:41 AM	#2
SoNotHer Senior Member How Do You Identify?: Professional Sandbagger and Jenga Zumba Instructor Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: In the master control room of my world domination dreams Posts: 2,811 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 6,587 Thanked 4,735 Times in 1,409 Posts Rep Power: 21474852	[QUOTE=tapu;433197]Let me try: You can't win for losin'. The good you may do is always canceled out by the bad that is collateral." Quite a leap it makes then. I saw a more gently and beautifully laid (yes, please do 'leap" on that entendre) argument in Tom Stoppard's play, Arcadia. Highly recommended. And yes, I think jargon is a poor substitute for "The Real Thing," to play off of another Stoppard title.