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To: eddie willers
You are correct; I think I understand her point of view. More accurately she objected to the notion that self sacrifice is a standard always to be judged good and self interest is a standard judged always to be bad.

In this country we all owe a great deal to many who have sacrificed themselves for the good of their fellow citizens... soldiers killed or maimed in battle come to mind. I am not familiar with her advocating someone giving their life or fortune for their country... especially since this is a concept always encouraged in totalitarian regimes.

Yet I know of many instances where someone did voluntarily give up their life or their fortune for the good of others and it was a good thing despite having no apparent benefit to the person who made the sacrifice. I think that she would say that unless the person felt that this action would somehow directly benefit at least their loved ones that this would be an irrational behavior.

36 posted on 08/22/2012 5:51:31 PM PDT by fireman15 (Check your facts before making ignorant statements.)
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To: fireman15
More accurately she objected to the notion that self sacrifice is a standard always to be judged good and self interest is a standard judged always to be bad.

In this country we all owe a great deal to many who have sacrificed themselves for the good of their fellow citizens... soldiers killed or maimed in battle come to mind. I am not familiar with her advocating someone giving their life or fortune for their country... especially since this is a concept always encouraged in totalitarian regimes.

Yet I know of many instances where someone did voluntarily give up their life or their fortune for the good of others and it was a good thing despite having no apparent benefit to the person who made the sacrifice.

You are still (slightly) missing the point.

If you believe the greatest thing you can do is self-sacrifice, then being successful in that goal is the most "selfish" thing you can possibly accomplish. You have succeeded on you own terms.

46 posted on 08/22/2012 9:09:45 PM PDT by eddie willers
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