I, Robot

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
No, we just don't have a pessamistic view of human nature. We realize that selfishness is only one of many conflicting impulses in human motivations, and can often be overridden, even without social programming (like religion). Our willingness to charge into danger to save a loved one is just as hardwired and is the ultimate unselfish act, for example.

See the other thread. There is no un-self-interested act, as everyone always acts towards their greatest inclinations.

[chequita guevara]

If thre is no such think as an un-self-interested act, the term is meaningless.

[Kuciwalker]

Yup. The closest thing to "altruism" is deriving happiness from another person's happiness.

[GePap]

I think I mixed up Inferno and Solaria because I had inferno on the mid, since I have that novel.

[Arrian]

Che - fine, if you simply are "not pessimistic" and we are, you are RELATIVELY optimistic. Ok? Good, that's settled then.

Back to Asimov and Robot books...

GePap - was Inferno any good?

-Arrian

[Boris Godunov]

I, Bored

[Arrian]

Hence reading this thread, or visiting 'poly in the first place?

-Arrian

[Boris Godunov]

That was my reaction to the movie, actually.

[Natalinasmpf]

Sure there is no act without self-interest, but many acts are of mutual interest, that is, benefiting you, will benefit me.

[chequita guevara]

Watching I, Robot is not in my self-interest. It will cost me money and annoy me. If I chose to do it anyway, however, Kuciwalker would declare that I have acted in my self-interest, because I chose to watch the movie.

[Last Conformist]

Kuciwalker is good at gerrymandering his definitions to the point that you can't disagree with him.

[Kuciwalker]

Either that or you're insane. Any rational being acts towards his (or her) greatest inclination.

Sure there is no act without self-interest, but many acts are of mutual interest, that is, benefiting you, will benefit me.

Definately. Trade, for example. Loans, investments, etc.

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by Last Conformist
Kuciwalker is good at gerrymandering his definitions to the point that you can't disagree with him.

I see no other non-arbitrary definition of self-interest.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Watching I, Robot is not in my self-interest. It will cost me money and annoy me. If I chose to do it anyway, however, Kuciwalker would declare that I have acted in my self-interest, because I chose to watch the movie.

Um... DUH! If you CHOSE to watch the movie, it was most definetly in your self interest to do so, or else you would not have.

[General Ludd]

I chose to do things that aren't in my self interest all the time.