I, Robot

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by 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.

Not necessarily. People chose to do things that are not in their self-interest (perceived and real) all the time.

[Baron von Funk]

I was thinking about going to see this film - is it any good?

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
Not necessarily. People chose to do things that are not in their self-interest (perceived and real) all the time.

Such as?

[Last Conformist]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker


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

I can think of a few.

All pretty much hinge on various defintions of "non-arbitrary", tho. I mean, for a very sensible one, all definitions are arbitrary.

[The Emperor Fabulous]

I saw the film last night. While not Oscar-worthy (except for special effects), I found it to be wholly watchable. Not only did it have the requisite summer blockbuster action, it maintained a level of philosphy that was akin to the first Matrix. Will Smith and the guy who does Sonny's voice and movements were great, and the plot and characters both had sufficient development.

I have never read Asimov's works, so I was able to take in this movie without bias. I give it 3 1/2 stars.

[General Ludd]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker


Such as?

Despite hating the idea of pets I look after a dog, because she is unable to look after herself and would otherwise she would be neglected. (as she has previously been)

I'm a vegetarian not for my own benefit, but for that of other animal's, and the environment.


I could go on...

[Kuciwalker]

You are a vegitarian because you are happier (or think you are happier) as a vegetarian, than not as one. You would be unhappy not helping that dog. Thus, it's not un-self-interested.

I can think of a few.

Such as?

[General Ludd]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker
You are a vegitarian because you are happier (or think you are happier) as a vegetarian, than not as one. You would be unhappy not helping that dog. Thus, it's not un-self-interested.

Yes, I would be unhappy because I don't like to see other beings suffer. How horribly selfish of me.

[Imran Siddiqui]

People chose to do things that are not in their self-interest (perceived and real) all the time.

If you CHOOSE to see the movie, you are doing it because it is in your self-interest to. You want to for some reason. To argue otherwise is to be totally idiotic.

es, I would be unhappy because I don't like to see other beings suffer. How horribly selfish of me.

You prove his point. You are a vegetarian because you'd be unhappy eating animals. It is in your self-interest thus not to eat them.

[General Ludd]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui

You prove his point. You are a vegetarian because you'd be unhappy eating animals. It is in your self-interest thus not to eat them.

You can't use happiness as a motivation behind everything without looking at the reasons behind the happiness itself.

Happiness can be derived from things that aren't a matter of your own self interest.

[Imran Siddiqui]

You can't use happiness as a motivation behind everything without looking at the reasons behind the happiness itself.

Happiness can be derived from things that aren't a matter of your own self interest.

But obviously it IS a matter of self-interest because everyone wants to be happier, whether in the short term or long term. Only those who are irrational do not want to be happy.

You may fool yourself by saying I'm actually doing this in the interest of someone else, but you are doing it because it makes you feel good and believe you should.

[General Ludd]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui

You can't use happiness as a motivation behind everything without looking at the reasons behind the happiness itself.

Happiness can be derived from things that aren't a matter of your own self interest.

But obviously it IS a matter of self-interest because everyone wants to be happier, whether in the short term or long term. Only those who are irrational do not want to be happy.

You may fool yourself by saying I'm actually doing this in the interest of someone else, but you are doing it because it makes you feel good and believe you should.

But in this case what makes me happy isn't in my self-interest in the first place. So if that is the case, and I am doing it to be happy, I am by proxy doing it for reasons other than my own self interest.

[Kuciwalker]

But in this case what makes me happy isn't in my self-interest in the first place.

Yes it is. Being happy is your self-interest. Anything that acts towards that end is therefore in your self-interest.

[Imran Siddiqui]

what makes me happy isn't in my self-interest in the first place.

But you know it makes you happy and being happy is in your self interest. So you are doing it in your self-interest (ie, to be happy). Like I said no rational person want to be unhappy.

[General Ludd]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker

But in this case what makes me happy isn't in my self-interest in the first place.

Yes it is. Being happy is your self-interest.

You're still not looking at the cause of the happiness itself

If happiness is derived through something that is not in your own self interest, how can that happiness be selfish?

Or are you telling me that I am selfish because I don't like to see other beings suffer? How completely absurd!