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Main Forums => Political Opinions => Topic started by: rogue_77 on September 16, 2006, 03:14:29 PM

Title: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: rogue_77 on September 16, 2006, 03:14:29 PM
Just wondering opinions.  Does life imitate art or does art imitate life??

I ask this because I think if you look at society art can have a large influence on peoples daily lives, but being the artist and looking at the lives of people can help you create your art...

Thoughts?
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: Evonus on September 16, 2006, 05:23:04 PM
I'm going to go with Adam Smith's interpretation here. It's really greed that drives a society. People want what's best for them and their offspring and will try their best to achieve that, usually by acquisition of monetary or liquid assets.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: 12AX7 on September 16, 2006, 06:42:35 PM
Does life imitate art or does art imitate life??
Yes.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: Crystalmonkey on September 16, 2006, 07:20:52 PM
I believe this is similar to:

Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: rogue_77 on September 16, 2006, 09:23:21 PM
I believe this is similar to:

Which came first, the chicken or the egg?

so which came first, the chicken or the egg??

 :wink:
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: Crystalmonkey on September 16, 2006, 10:02:52 PM
If you happen to believe in evolution, I would imagine the egg.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: 12AX7 on September 16, 2006, 10:46:12 PM
A more discussion-inviting query might be "HOW does Life imitate Art / Art imitate Life?"
 "Do they?" is a bit too rhetorical to collect varying answers, I would guess. 
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: 12AX7 on September 16, 2006, 10:55:04 PM
I'm going to go with Adam Smith's interpretation here. It's really greed that drives a society. People want what's best for them and their offspring and will try their best to achieve that, usually by acquisition of monetary or liquid assets.
I don't think that's greed. That's more like simple survival. Greed would be desiring to aquire excesses for one's self. To simply want a good life doesn't really rise to the level of "greed", and aquiring (or desiring to aquire) for others (your offspring) isn't greed at all.
 You've heard the phrase , "He was doing alright; then he got greedy."
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: Evonus on September 16, 2006, 11:47:56 PM
I don't think that's greed. That's more like simple survival. Greed would be desiring to aquire excesses for one's self. To simply want a good life doesn't really rise to the level of "greed", and aquiring (or desiring to aquire) for others (your offspring) isn't greed at all.
 You've heard the phrase , "He was doing alright; then he got greedy."

But people don't stop when they have a good life, because good is always in relative terms. Good in relation to what? And as people acquire more resources that what always continues to increase, which is why greed is the main driving factor, because no one just gets to a point and deliberately stops.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: 12AX7 on September 17, 2006, 12:14:28 AM
But people don't stop when they have a good life, because good is always in relative terms. Good in relation to what?
Don't you understand the concept of "better"? 

And as people acquire more resources that what always continues to increase, which is why greed is the main driving factor
Simply having "more" has nothing to do with greed. Neither does "wanting better/more".


greed –noun
excessive or rapacious desire, esp. for wealth or possessions.
[Origin: 1600–10; back formation from greedy]
—Greed, greediness denote an
excessive, extreme desire for something, often more than one's proper share.[/b] Greed means avid desire for gain or wealth (unless some other application is indicated) and is definitely uncomplimentary in implication.


because no one just gets to a point and deliberately stops.
  How many people do you know that have had the same job for years? Lived in the same house for years? Maintained the same lifestyle for years? Stayed with the same Spouse or Sniffacunt Other for years?
 So why isn't everyone millionaires and CEOs? What's the holdup?
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: Evonus on September 17, 2006, 09:08:48 AM
Don't you understand the concept of "better"? 
Simply having "more" has nothing to do with greed. Neither does "wanting better/more".


greed –noun
excessive or rapacious desire, esp. for wealth or possessions.
[Origin: 1600–10; back formation from greedy]
—Greed, greediness denote an
excessive, extreme desire for something, often more than one's proper share.[/b] Greed means avid desire for gain or wealth (unless some other application is indicated) and is definitely uncomplimentary in implication.

But all of that is subjective, and tends to change over the years. I mean who determines what's excessive desire for money? How much is ones fair share? People decide that for themselves often times.

Quote
How many people do you know that have had the same job for years? Lived in the same house for years? Maintained the same lifestyle for years? Stayed with the same Spouse or Sniffacunt Other for years?
 So why isn't everyone millionaires and CEOs? What's the holdup?


A) That's because some people (most people) can't do any better. I mean promotions occur, but no one is just going to walk into a building and be made the CEO.

B) They continually acquire more even through that. Raises and such.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: 12AX7 on September 17, 2006, 02:47:18 PM
But all of that is subjective, and tends to change over the years.

greed –noun
excessive or rapacious desire, esp. for wealth or possessions.
[Origin: 1600–10; back formation from greedy]
—Greed, greediness denote an
excessive, extreme desire for something, often more than one's proper share.[/b] Greed means avid desire for gain or wealth (unless some other application is indicated) and is definitely uncomplimentary in implication.

It's a dictionary definition; it hasn't changed "over the years" since the 1600's.

 You're trying to be waaaaaay too broad with a word (greed) that doesn't fit. I agree; it's peoples'  desire for "more/better" that drives a society; but that is not greed. What you're putting forth is akin to stating that anyone who gets in a car is a speedfreak. By default, if they are 'driving'; they are 'speeding'.
You're smart enough to know better than that.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: Evonus on September 17, 2006, 05:08:16 PM
It's a dictionary definition; it hasn't changed "over the years" since the 1600's.

 You're trying to be waaaaaay too broad with a word (greed) that doesn't fit. I agree; it's peoples'  desire for "more/better" that drives a society; but that is not greed. What you're putting forth is akin to stating that anyone who gets in a car is a speedfreak. By default, if they are 'driving'; they are 'speeding'.
You're smart enough to know better than that.

I'm not saying the definition of the word has changed, I'm saying the definition of the word is vague. Any desire for wealth can be considered greed, because to some it would seem excessive.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: 12AX7 on September 17, 2006, 05:27:03 PM
I'm saying the definition of the word is vague. Any desire for wealth can be considered greed, because to some it would seem excessive.
Riiiiiiight. Ok, then.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: Crystalmonkey on September 17, 2006, 06:11:54 PM
greed

n 1: excessive desire to acquire or possess more (especially more material wealth) than one needs or deserves 2: reprehensible acquisitiveness; insatiable desire for wealth (personified as one of the deadly sins)


What "excessive, more than one needs or deserves, reprehensible acquisitiveness" mean in terms of reality are not so easy to define. A dictionary has a definition, but the practical application can vary.

He's trying to point out that to you, buying a piece of gun (or perhaps trying to make 20 bucks) isn't excessive. To someone who has a different view of the capitalist system, or even a different value of gum, it could be. It depends on how you value something.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: Evonus on September 17, 2006, 09:25:03 PM
greed

n 1: excessive desire to acquire or possess more (especially more material wealth) than one needs or deserves 2: reprehensible acquisitiveness; insatiable desire for wealth (personified as one of the deadly sins)


What "excessive, more than one needs or deserves, reprehensible acquisitiveness" mean in terms of reality are not so easy to define. A dictionary has a definition, but the practical application can vary.

He's trying to point out that to you, buying a piece of gun (or perhaps trying to make 20 bucks) isn't excessive. To someone who has a different view of the capitalist system, or even a different value of gum, it could be. It depends on how you value something.

Thank you, I was beginning to think I was speaking a different language.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: 12AX7 on September 18, 2006, 06:28:55 AM
I'm sure if I unpinned the definition of something and claimed it could mean various things to whoever; I could engage in a similar style debate. But they still use the red markers at my school; and things aren't given defintion by how you "feel" or how you wish to use them. Black is still black, red is still red, and dictionary definitions are actually definitions; not suggestions to be applied however anyone sees fit. I can't debate you when you unpin the very definition of the word you're attempting to use; and go off on some tangent about how anyone could apply it to anything; depending on "what it means to them". 

 "Society is driven by greed."

 "That's not greed- by definition, greed means <insert apparently useless dictionary definition>. That driving force would be "survival"; possibly "instinct"."

 "No. . . greed means... whatever meaning anyone applies to it. If you want anything; you're greedy."

 
 
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: Socrates on September 18, 2006, 07:07:55 AM
so which came first, the chicken or the egg??

 :wink:

Neither, the Rooster came first.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: 12AX7 on September 18, 2006, 07:20:12 AM
+1  :lol:
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: TheJudge on September 18, 2006, 09:07:24 AM
So, who's having sex with the hen? Something's missing!

/Frank
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: derry on September 18, 2006, 11:14:42 AM
Life and art are pretty loose terms. However, I'd say life imitates art...art being human creativity/mind. Art can imitate life, but it's really just more of a recognition of something that already has artistic value.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: Crystalmonkey on September 18, 2006, 01:29:49 PM
I'm sure if I unpinned the definition of something and claimed it could mean various things to whoever; I could engage in a similar style debate. But they still use the red markers at my school; and things aren't given defintion by how you "feel" or how you wish to use them. Black is still black, red is still red, and dictionary definitions are actually definitions; not suggestions to be applied however anyone sees fit. I can't debate you when you unpin the very definition of the word you're attempting to use; and go off on some tangent about how anyone could apply it to anything; depending on "what it means to them". 

 "Society is driven by greed."

 "That's not greed- by definition, greed means <insert apparently useless dictionary definition>. That driving force would be "survival"; possibly "instinct"."

"No. . . greed means... whatever meaning anyone applies to it. If you want anything; you're greedy."

 
 

Apples and Oranges.

There are some things that we don't usually debate about because the way in which they are "known" and defined warrants it. (Colors, Measurement like "Meters, Inches, etc..", Mathematics perhaps)

There are some things that you HAVE to debate because they require NORMATIVE values.

Justice is the quality of being just; righteousness, equitableness, or moral rightness. I think we might all agree on that, but the point we might debate about is WHAT WE THINK OF AS JUST OR MORALLY RIGHT. To some, BEING GAY IS PUNISHABLE BY DEATH. Do you think that it's justice if someone were to go and kill because of that? The person doing the killing certainly would, because "Righteousness" is something not clearly defined in the dictionary, and cannot be. It changes over time, hence it being NORMATIVE.

What was completely ignored in your argument is that while greed may be the "excessive desire to acquire or possess more", you haven't told me what EXCESSIVE is. That's like trying to say that "Justice is the quality of being just" and not explaining what being JUST is.


Edit:
Just to make it clear, I'm not trying to make this personal. We're still friends. =)
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: rogue_77 on September 18, 2006, 09:08:29 PM
But where does wanting to "better" your life stop and greed start?

Also, I think it works both ways.  Life imitates art and art imitates life.

Looking back, you'll see pieces of art that have very much influenced life.  Any work that is mentioned in daily life.  Books, music, etc.  That alters your life, so your life is changed because of it.

I could name MANY examples.  Even now days, as well as centuries old pieces.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: Agent_Tachyon on September 19, 2006, 12:25:41 AM
I'd say that greed begins when you do something to better your life excessively (that is, when it isn't necessary). The problem lies when people start pinning their own definitions of necessity on people. Personally, I'd be content to live with a lot less posessions than a log of people I know, people who buy things that they have no practical use for, yet I'm careful about calling them greedy, for all I know in their personal reality such things really ARE necessities.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: 12AX7 on September 19, 2006, 06:45:50 AM
There are some things that we don't usually debate about because the way in which they are "known" and defined warrants it. (Colors, Measurement like "Meters, Inches, etc..", Mathematics perhaps)

There are some things that you HAVE to debate because they require NORMATIVE values.

Justice is the quality of being just; righteousness, equitableness, or moral rightness. I think we might all agree on that, but the point we might debate about is WHAT WE THINK OF AS JUST OR MORALLY RIGHT. To some, BEING GAY IS PUNISHABLE BY DEATH. Do you think that it's justice if someone were to go and kill because of that? The person doing the killing certainly would, because "Righteousness" is something not clearly defined in the dictionary, and cannot be. It changes over time, hence it being NORMATIVE.

What was completely ignored in your argument is that while greed may be the "excessive desire to acquire or possess more", you haven't told me what EXCESSIVE is. That's like trying to say that "Justice is the quality of being just" and not explaining what being JUST is.
So now we have to define "excessive" so that we can define "greed". Which word will be the next? We can go on and on and on and on like this. Which is why we, as a society, have tools to use such as a dictionary to define things ("greed", "excessive", "justice", "just") with a definate definition (how funny; definiton derives from DEFINATE); so we don't have to debate each word's meaning or find a new meaning every time we have a conversation. Can you imagine your example above in practical application? We would have to define "just"; so that we can define "justice"; which, obviously, is going to require an explanation of "Law"; which requires an explanation or "criminality"... for each and every trial.
 And what if the accused demands an altered definiton of guilty? Or of "accused"? What if the accused claims what he did is not a crime at all, the way he sees it? Is he still guilty? Can he even ever be found guilty -of anything- under these circumstances?

...you haven't told me what EXCESSIVE is...
...it's in the dictionary. :p  :)

Edit:
Just to make it clear, I'm not trying to make this personal. We're still friends. =)
(http://www.musichouse.biz/desktop/images/smiles/kiss.gif)

 :-D




--- edited to kill some stowaway commas and quotation marks. We threw their bodies overboard, so if you ha"ppen to see any grammar fragments fl,oating by, just ignor"e them.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: dcrog on September 19, 2006, 08:27:25 AM
Does life imitate art or does art imitate life??

Being an H. R. Geiger fan I would hope niether.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: derry on September 19, 2006, 09:06:13 AM
Quote
Being an H. R. Geiger fan I would hope niether.

If you like Giger, check out Beksinski. He's dark...some of his images haunt me. Anyway, I think of him when I think of Giger, etc.

http://www.gnosis.art.pl/iluminatornia/sztuka_o_inspiracji/zdzislaw_beksinski/zdzislaw_beksinski_1980.htm

Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: Crystalmonkey on September 19, 2006, 09:44:38 AM
So now we have to define "excessive" so that we can define "greed". Which word will be the next? We can go on and on and on and on like this. Which is why we, as a society, have tools to use such as a dictionary to define things ("greed", "excessive", "justice", "just") with a definate definition (how funny; definiton derives from DEFINATE); so we don't have to debate each word's meaning or find a new meaning every time we have a conversation.

Entire wars have been fought over definitions. In a philosophical debate you must take great pains to be very clear about what you mean when you say things because your argument could be misconstrued and/or fall apart. Just because you have to define words doesn't mean it isn't an important step. There are certain words that DON'T need to be debated, AS I TRIED TO TELL YOU IN THE PRIOR POST. Your above post is called a "Slippery Slope Argument", which is a logically fallacy, in which you go from A to B and then suddenly jump to Z with no real connection. I am trying to get you to define your SUBJECTIVE terms and you are suddenly claiming I want you to redefine the English language. (There is a certain amount of agreement needed between the people involved in a debate. Subjective words are a place where either party may disagree and be forced to come to a consensus on before proceeding.)

Excessive:
going beyond the usual, necessary, or proper limit or degree; characterized by excess.

The above statement is "the" definition of excessive, taken from dictionary.com to prove a point. NECESSARY, PROPER, and USUAL are all things that are SUBJECTIVE and CONTEXTUAL, which means they are VALUE JUDGEMENTS that are UP FOR DEBATE. The very nature of the language is such that there are some things you HAVE to debate about because the definition changes over time. What MORAL means has changed over time though the dictionary definition remains the same. What you can't seem to agree with me on is that the dicitionary may have a broad definition of the word, like the above statement, but sometimes the definition is inadequette and can only be established through debate.

I'm telling you that I agree with you about greed being the desire for excess but that there is much to discuss about what is the "proper limit" and you are trying to tell me that I'm "ignoring" the definition of greed. I'm not, I'm trying to point out the VALUE JUDGEMENTS THAT ARE PART OF THE DEFINITION.


We would have to define "just"; so that we can define "justice"; which, obviously, is going to require an explanation of "Law"; which requires an explanation or "criminality"... for each and every trial.
And what if the accused demands an altered definiton of guilty? Or of "accused"? What if the accused claims what he did is not a crime at all, the way he sees it? Is he still guilty? Can he even ever be found guilty -of anything- under these circumstances?

Crime:
(criminal law) an act punishable by law.

Criminal:
guilty of crime

We as a society generally agree to abide by a common set of laws and to hold each other accountable for not following them. What this means is that it is that the GROUP WITH POWER is forcing its definition of law onto the GROUP WITHOUT POWER. It's up for debate whether that's moral.

The jury in a trial may find a person "not guilty" even if they feel that the person committed the "crime" they were charged with because of some mittigating circumstance. (The law being unfair or irrational, etc...)
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: Silvy on October 22, 2006, 06:01:48 PM
So that the art is created the artist must have a certain class of inspiration, or at least certain idea in mind of knowing what to express… I think that the life is the reason by which the art exists, and at the same time the art is what completes a society, but the art (at least with the painting) is the perception of the artist on the world, as it perceives to the nature, or their political opinions and feelings are shaped with colors on the linen cloth, so… the society inspires to the artist, but is the artist the one that inspires to the society

just like he said:
I believe this is similar to:

Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: xolik on October 22, 2006, 07:13:29 PM
I'm amazed at the amount of people I meet that get 'being greedy' and 'being ambitious' confused. Wanting to better yourself and to enjoy the good things that life can give you due to your hard work != being an evil greedy bastard.

Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: Agent_Tachyon on October 22, 2006, 07:19:40 PM
I'm amazed at the amount of people I meet that get 'being greedy' and 'being ambitious' confused. Wanting to better yourself and to enjoy the good things that life can give you due to your hard work != being an evil greedy bastard.

Yeah I've noticed that too.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: pbsaurus on October 23, 2006, 03:19:49 PM
Ambition and greed are not mutually exclusive either.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: Evonus on October 23, 2006, 06:45:02 PM
Ambition and greed are the same thing, the only difference is that ambition is the nice way to say greed.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: Crystalmonkey on October 23, 2006, 06:58:01 PM
Ambition and greed are the same thing, the only difference is that ambition is the nice way to say greed.

Definitions of ambition on the Web:

    * a cherished desire; "his ambition is to own his own business"
    * a strong drive for success
    * have as one's ambition


Definitions of greed on the Web:

    * excessive desire to acquire or possess more (especially more material wealth) than one needs or deserves
    * avarice: reprehensible acquisitiveness; insatiable desire for wealth (personified as one of the deadly sins)
      wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

    * Greed is a desire to obtain more money or material possessions or bodily satisfaction than one is considered to need. A more religious term for greed is avarice, which is listed as one of the Catholic Seven Deadly Sins.
      en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greed





Sound pretty different to me, and I happen to agree with the above definitions...
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: Evonus on October 23, 2006, 07:00:02 PM
Definitions of ambition on the Web:

    * a cherished desire; "his ambition is to own his own business"
    * a strong drive for success
    * have as one's ambition


Definitions of greed on the Web:

    * excessive desire to acquire or possess more (especially more material wealth) than one needs or deserves
    * avarice: reprehensible acquisitiveness; insatiable desire for wealth (personified as one of the deadly sins)
      wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

    * Greed is a desire to obtain more money or material possessions or bodily satisfaction than one is considered to need. A more religious term for greed is avarice, which is listed as one of the Catholic Seven Deadly Sins.
      en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greed





Sound pretty different to me, and I happen to agree with the above definitions...

Remove the word excessive which is subjective and it's practically the same definition.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: Agent_Tachyon on October 23, 2006, 07:36:27 PM
I've always associated ambition as more of a word pertaining to self-improvement for some reason.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: pbsaurus on October 23, 2006, 07:53:38 PM
Freedom fighter vs terrorist.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: Agent_Tachyon on October 23, 2006, 08:09:45 PM
Freedom fighter vs terrorist.

I don't know if those terms are really up to date. Firstly, freedom fighter is (as I think Judge pointed out) sounds like it should mean the opposite of what it does. The way I see it, many of the people who were called 'freedom fighters' back in the days when they were on a jihad against Soviets, and now they're terrorists because it's a different jihad. Currently the 'terrorists' are so called because they fight AGAINST freedom, liberty, blah blah blah and want religious extremism instead.

Just my 0.784334 cents American or whatever it is now.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: pbsaurus on October 23, 2006, 08:47:25 PM
They're freedom fighters if we agree with them.  They're terrorists if we don't.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: xolik on October 23, 2006, 09:12:58 PM
So we should abandon all ambitions (since it's the same as greed according to some people) and be content to live in the gutter? Why are successful people the object of hatred simply by virtue of their success? What, that guy is rich? Obvious he's done something illegal and\or exploited the poor to get that way amirite?

I'm sure by now you've figured out that I'm one of those evil, heartless bastards that dares take advantage of the opprotunities my country affords me.  :wink:
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: Agent_Tachyon on October 23, 2006, 09:27:48 PM
So we should abandon all ambitions (since it's the same as greed according to some people) and be content to live in the gutter? Why are successful people the object of hatred simply by virtue of their success? What, that guy is rich? Obvious he's done something illegal and\or exploited the poor to get that way amirite?

I'm sure by now you've figured out that I'm one of those evil, heartless bastards that dares take advantage of the opprotunities my country affords me.  :wink:

There are plenty of people who become rich through nothing more than hard work and intelligence, but society at large has seen too many fuckers get rich from underhanded, if not outwardly illegal means that we've become jaded. I for one try not to judge people by things like material posessions (I'm of the mind that these have meaning only to whoever posesses them).
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: Evonus on October 23, 2006, 09:43:17 PM
I've always associated ambition as more of a word pertaining to self-improvement for some reason.

You improve yourself through greed as well.

So we should abandon all ambitions (since it's the same as greed according to some people) and be content to live in the gutter? Why are successful people the object of hatred simply by virtue of their success? What, that guy is rich? Obvious he's done something illegal and\or exploited the poor to get that way amirite?

I'm sure by now you've figured out that I'm one of those evil, heartless bastards that dares take advantage of the opprotunities my country affords me.  :wink:

You've got me all wrong, I have no problem with being greedy. I am one the greediest money grubbing bastards going, because like I said, greed makes the world go round. I consider greed a good thing, if no one was greedy nothing would ever get done.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: TeraHammer on October 24, 2006, 01:30:26 PM
It's survival of the fittest, isn't it? You've got a bigger chance to survive if you have more food/water/money/love/pickles. So greed is good for oneself.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: xolik on October 24, 2006, 01:55:39 PM
It's survival of the fittest, isn't it? You've got a bigger chance to survive if you have more food/water/money/love/pickles.

PICKLES! That's what I'm missing. *runs off to the market*
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: Demosthenes on October 27, 2006, 05:36:52 PM
Definitions of greed on the Web:

    * excessive desire to acquire or possess more (especially more material wealth) than one needs or deserves

The problem I have is the fact that "needs or deserves" is often defined by others, not individuals who are acquiring or possessing such wealth.

When it comes down to it, nobody can really tell us what we "need" for ourselves, our households, our families, except us.  It infuriates me when I see someone (particularly a politician) stand up and want to punish those who "have more than they need".  Who is anyone else to tell me what I need or don't need?

Money isn't everything to me.  But I know my needs better than some politician.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: Agent_Tachyon on October 27, 2006, 07:28:26 PM
The problem I have is the fact that "needs or deserves" is often defined by others, not individuals who are acquiring or possessing such wealth.

When it comes down to it, nobody can really tell us what we "need" for ourselves, our households, our families, except us.  It infuriates me when I see someone (particularly a politician) stand up and want to punish those who "have more than they need".  Who is anyone else to tell me what I need or don't need?

Money isn't everything to me.  But I know my needs better than some politician.

I know for a fact what some politicians NEED...
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: patthager on February 05, 2007, 09:19:42 PM
I think that, yes, every action in the history of man had some selfish desire behind it.  Greed and ambition aside, all these actions were commited to the end of making life good, if not better.  The view of what a 'good life' is varys from person to person.  This can be destructive or constructive.  If everyone had the same idea of what good was, and the uselessly retarded proletrait and easily directable mob was eliminated, 'he has greed' would be the exact same as 'he takes pride'.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: Scheherazade on February 18, 2007, 07:57:33 AM
I think that, yes, every action in the history of man had some selfish desire behind it.

Every action ever taken has some selfish desire behind it, if you want to look at it this way. Greed and self absorbency are characteristics of human nature. It's pointless to try and pick it apart and say that greed is evil, because your reason to say it is backed by greed; whether you're greedy for a better self image or just greedy for others to have a high opinion of you.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: Agent_Tachyon on February 18, 2007, 09:51:15 PM
I think there was a book called the Selfish Gene about this.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: Crystalmonkey on February 19, 2007, 12:55:09 AM
But can ALL things really be considered selfish? (I do often wonder about this)

Consider this:

A mother and a child are in a situation (Whatever it may be, use your imaginations) and the mother must make a choice, either she dies or the child dies.

Let's say (and I don't think this is impossible) that the mother chooses to die for the child.

What are some of the possible motivations?:

A) The pain that the child's death would cause on the mother would be so great that the mother wouldn't want to live. (Selfish)
B) The mother would rather see her child live than herself. (Perhaps she feels that she is worthless or has led a "good" life, in any event not so selfish, assuming she doesn't desire death because she is in pain or something...)
C) The mother thinks she'll get into heaven. (Selfish)
D) The mother wants others to think better of her. (Selfish)

While I can certainly see there are a lot of selfish motivations, and it is certainly possible the mother in this "situation" chose one, what about the idea that there are some motivations that are NOT selfish, and this is certainly NOT a comprehensive list of motivations...

This is not to say that being self-interested is bad, for instance killing someone in defense of your life, I am just wondering whether ALL things are motivated by greed. (And what the possible consequences of this are...)
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: Scheherazade on February 19, 2007, 08:19:12 AM
But can ALL things really be considered selfish? (I do often wonder about this)

Consider this:

A mother and a child are in a situation (Whatever it may be, use your imaginations) and the mother must make a choice, either she dies or the child dies.

Let's say (and I don't think this is impossible) that the mother chooses to die for the child.

What are some of the possible motivations?:

A) The pain that the child's death would cause on the mother would be so great that the mother wouldn't want to live. (Selfish)
B) The mother would rather see her child live than herself. (Perhaps she feels that she is worthless or has led a "good" life, in any event not so selfish, assuming she doesn't desire death because she is in pain or something...)
C) The mother thinks she'll get into heaven. (Selfish)
D) The mother wants others to think better of her. (Selfish)

While I can certainly see there are a lot of selfish motivations, and it is certainly possible the mother in this "situation" chose one, what about the idea that there are some motivations that are NOT selfish, and this is certainly NOT a comprehensive list of motivations...

This is not to say that being self-interested is bad, for instance killing someone in defense of your life, I am just wondering whether ALL things are motivated by greed. (And what the possible consequences of this are...)

No.

No matter what the mother in your situation chooses, it has a selfish base. People who give to charity? Selfish. People who do volunteer work? Selfish. Everyone is selfish. You cannot change this. When you give to charity, you're doing something to make yourself feel better.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: Vespertine on February 19, 2007, 11:59:39 AM
No.

No matter what the mother in your situation chooses, it has a selfish base. People who give to charity? Selfish. People who do volunteer work? Selfish. Everyone is selfish. You cannot change this. When you give to charity, you're doing something to make yourself feel better.
I think you'd better be very careful when deciding to act as the representative for six billion people.  Maybe when you give to charity or do volunteer work, it's for selfish reasons.  However, I don't think your motives can be applied to everyone.  Let me give you an example.  I give blood fairly regularly.  Nothing about it makes me feel good in any way, either emotionally or physically.  I feel like crap for a few days afterward, I usually end up with a massive bruise on my arm, and I'm pissed off because I'm terrified of needles.  Why do I do it?  Because I have one of the rarer blood types, and I know that donating can help others.  I get absolutely nothing out of it, but I do it anyway. 
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: 12AX7 on February 19, 2007, 12:20:04 PM
I get absolutely nothing out of it, but I do it anyway. 
Hearing ya, sis!

 The idea of everything 'volunteer' being based in selfishness is predicated on the assumption that all your actions are yours/or your decision alone; and unbiased by your environment. That's not the case, usually, in real life. People do a LOT of things because they feel they have to; many resent it even. That is closer to the norm, I believe, than people being free to make any/all decisions to suit themselves.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: MISTER MASSACRE on February 20, 2007, 11:19:17 AM
By way of example, I make fun of people on Internet not because I enjoy it, but because I feel I have to.

Completely and totally selfless, me. I should get a medal.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: Demosthenes on February 20, 2007, 11:23:14 AM
I ain't got no medal.  How about a Coolio Point?

 :mrgreen:
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: Scheherazade on February 20, 2007, 01:26:59 PM
I get absolutely nothing out of it, but I do it anyway. 

You're honestly going to tell me that helping others doesn't make you feel better about yourself?
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: ivan on February 20, 2007, 01:36:31 PM
Helping others does make me feel better about myself, but not as a person.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: Scheherazade on February 20, 2007, 01:53:36 PM
Helping others does make me feel better about myself, but not as a person.

Does it make you feel better about yourself as an ivan?
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: pbsaurus on February 20, 2007, 01:55:49 PM
Everything a solipsist does is selfish.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: Demosthenes on February 20, 2007, 01:56:34 PM
Does it make you feel better about yourself as an ivan?

No, it makes him feel better about himself as a tool.   :lol:
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: ivan on February 20, 2007, 02:26:24 PM
Stop harshing my mellow.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: Scheherazade on February 20, 2007, 02:31:04 PM
No, it makes him feel better about himself as a tool.   :lol:

If ivan was a tool, which kind would he be?

Personally I think he'd be a screwdriver.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: Vespertine on February 20, 2007, 03:06:11 PM
You're honestly going to tell me that helping others doesn't make you feel better about yourself?
Yes, that is exactly what I'm telling you.  I feel a certain way about myself.  Those feelings are the same whether I'm helping others or making babies cry.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: ivan on February 20, 2007, 03:11:07 PM
I read that, and then I read it again but dropped the last word, and it still made sense, but was much more intrigueing.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: Scheherazade on February 20, 2007, 03:14:58 PM
I read that, and then I read it again but dropped the last word, and it still made sense, but was much more intrigueing.

Yep; definitely a screwdriver.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: Agent_Tachyon on February 20, 2007, 04:38:08 PM
Don't be silly. I'm a guy, and guys don't have feelings.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: dcrog on February 20, 2007, 04:56:07 PM
Yep; definitely a screwdriver.

Myself I've always thought of him as a weed whacker.

Or a whacker, anyway.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: ivan on February 20, 2007, 05:00:00 PM
I'm not taking the bait.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: pbsaurus on February 20, 2007, 05:12:05 PM
Dude, he's like one of those USB flash drive Swiss Army Knives.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: 12AX7 on February 20, 2007, 05:15:42 PM
I'm not taking the bait.

Why not? dc's a Master at that.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: ivan on February 20, 2007, 05:19:56 PM
Dude, he's like one of those USB flash drive Swiss Army Knives.

Yeah. All flash and no drive.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: ivan on February 20, 2007, 05:20:48 PM
Which is, of course, why chicks dig me.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: 12AX7 on February 20, 2007, 05:21:43 PM
So you're a shovel, then?
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: ivan on February 20, 2007, 05:43:41 PM
Only on a trowel basis.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: pbsaurus on February 20, 2007, 06:26:57 PM
No need to hammer this joke into the ground.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: Agent_Tachyon on February 20, 2007, 06:33:28 PM
You sure hit that one on the head.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: Demosthenes on February 20, 2007, 06:35:48 PM
Not from what I saw.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: ivan on February 20, 2007, 06:50:15 PM
This type of thread chisels away at the integrity of the site.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: Agent_Tachyon on February 20, 2007, 07:10:27 PM
Damn it awl.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: pbsaurus on February 20, 2007, 07:28:07 PM
I refuse to ratchet this one up any further.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: Vespertine on February 20, 2007, 07:53:10 PM
I'm finding it difficult to wrench myself away from this exchange and go to dinner.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: Agent_Tachyon on February 20, 2007, 07:57:02 PM
Screw you guys, I'm goin' home.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: pbsaurus on February 20, 2007, 08:45:01 PM
Hopefully the tape will measure up.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: Demosthenes on February 20, 2007, 09:35:54 PM
*bolts*
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: Agent_Tachyon on February 20, 2007, 10:12:24 PM
This is riveting.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: BizB on February 20, 2007, 10:30:40 PM
This thread will never measure up.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: Demosthenes on February 20, 2007, 11:13:00 PM
This thread will never measure up.

Why'd your response take so long?  Something wrong with your router?
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: Agent_Tachyon on February 20, 2007, 11:14:15 PM
Sorry I took so long, I was engaged in a fire drill.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: xolik on February 21, 2007, 12:28:04 AM
TOOLS LOL



Am I doing this right?  :?
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: Leonidas on February 21, 2007, 03:55:36 AM
+1 drunken response to this thread.  I suppose to deserve a smite for this, so something on topic to alleviate the wrath:

I prefer to think the individual is responsible for his own actions and should be held as such, so therefore I believe art imitates life, and not so much the opposite.  The latter is an excuse for those who cannot separate fantasy from reality.  I am having some trouble expressing myself for obvious reasons (happy Mardi Gras everyone!) so please bear with me.  Art imitates life, and the instances where life imitates art are the workings of some maladjusted individuals.  I would appreciate it if no one called me out on this latter comment, if someone finds it false.  I'm a raving drunken idiot right now, sorry.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: 12AX7 on February 21, 2007, 08:59:56 AM
Hey man... that ladder comment rung false.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: pbsaurus on February 21, 2007, 12:16:31 PM
I'm feeling awfully chipper this morning.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: Scheherazade on February 21, 2007, 06:33:24 PM
People can be rebuilt

You don't know Jack, Hammer!
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: pbsaurus on February 21, 2007, 06:36:46 PM
Seeing all that vice, grips me right here.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: Demosthenes on February 21, 2007, 06:37:33 PM
You guys are all nuts.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: 12AX7 on February 21, 2007, 06:42:03 PM
Wire we still doing this?
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: Scheherazade on February 21, 2007, 06:43:30 PM
Wire we still doing this?

Let me level with you; we're insane.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: ivan on February 21, 2007, 06:50:48 PM
This is plane stupid.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: Scheherazade on February 21, 2007, 06:52:12 PM
How DARE y'awl insult me?
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: 12AX7 on February 21, 2007, 06:54:14 PM
I thought you were fairly squared away.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: ivan on February 21, 2007, 06:56:00 PM
Dang, I made her mad. Now I'll have to plier with drink.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: 12AX7 on February 21, 2007, 06:56:30 PM
That's a good set of plans.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: ivan on February 21, 2007, 07:00:14 PM
This does not auger well.

Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: 12AX7 on February 21, 2007, 07:01:19 PM
Yeh. I think it was that bit about "stupid".
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: pbsaurus on February 21, 2007, 07:01:33 PM
You have me out on a sledge
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: 12AX7 on February 22, 2007, 11:36:04 AM
You have me out on a sledge
Trying to get a rope to ya; crane your neck out around the corner.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: pbsaurus on February 22, 2007, 12:53:27 PM
The wife is going to the dentist today.  I hope she doesn't get dry socket.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: BizB on February 22, 2007, 12:56:30 PM
You guys have far too many vises to be considered normal.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: BizB on February 22, 2007, 12:59:37 PM
This thread is fubar (http://www.stanleytools.com/default.asp?CATEGORY=HT+BARS&TYPE=PRODUCT&PARTNUMBER=55-099&SDesc=FatMax%26%23174%3B+Xtreme%26%238482%3B+Fubar%26%238482%3B+Functional+Utility+Bar)
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: 12AX7 on February 22, 2007, 01:02:46 PM
You guys have far too many vises to be considered normal.
We're plumb crazy. You know that.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: pbsaurus on February 22, 2007, 01:03:36 PM
You guys have far too many vises to be considered normal.

You just mitre be right.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: 12AX7 on February 22, 2007, 01:04:55 PM
The wife is going to the dentist today.  I hope she doesn't get dry socket.
Getting work on false teeth? Or d-rill ones?
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: 12AX7 on February 22, 2007, 01:07:47 PM
This thread is fubar (http://www.stanleytools.com/default.asp?CATEGORY=HT+BARS&TYPE=PRODUCT&PARTNUMBER=55-099&SDesc=FatMax%26%23174%3B+Xtreme%26%238482%3B+Fubar%26%238482%3B+Functional+Utility+Bar)
Hey I saw that at Home Depot.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: dcrog on February 22, 2007, 02:15:05 PM
And here I always thought fubar stood for fucked up beyond all recognition.

That's plane screwed up.

Then again I guess this thread is awlso.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: pbsaurus on February 22, 2007, 02:16:12 PM
My wife's nickname is Sanders
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: Demosthenes on February 22, 2007, 02:28:45 PM
This thread is fubar (http://www.stanleytools.com/default.asp?CATEGORY=HT+BARS&TYPE=PRODUCT&PARTNUMBER=55-099&SDesc=FatMax%26%23174%3B+Xtreme%26%238482%3B+Fubar%26%238482%3B+Functional+Utility+Bar)

OMG.  That is cool.  I totally need to get one of those.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: pbsaurus on February 22, 2007, 04:14:28 PM
Yeah it looks pretty rigid (http://www.ridgid.com/)
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: dcrog on February 22, 2007, 04:36:54 PM
OMG.  That is cool.  I totally need to get one of those.

I don't see the punch line in that quote.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: pbsaurus on February 22, 2007, 04:47:38 PM
Not even the slightest bit of a tool pun.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: BizB on February 22, 2007, 04:51:20 PM
Demo is a tool.  He doesn't need to add a pun.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: pbsaurus on February 22, 2007, 05:04:24 PM
Trencher?  I hardly knew her.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: 12AX7 on February 22, 2007, 05:06:33 PM
Demo is a tool.  He doesn't need to add a pun.
Welder ya go; there's your reason right there.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: pbsaurus on February 22, 2007, 05:07:59 PM
Keep your hands to yourself and don't torch me.
Title: Re: What truly drives society? Does life imitate art or does art
Post by: 12AX7 on February 22, 2007, 05:09:51 PM
Yoo caint have that attitude, now, when we'uns git to Tamper Bay.