tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post8844202339982328097..comments2023-10-24T04:29:23.693-06:00Comments on Atheist Ethicist: Good Resolutions and How to Keep ThemAlonzo Fyfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05687777216426347054noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post-87830825696178836882008-01-06T06:22:00.000-07:002008-01-06T06:22:00.000-07:00One has to keep in mind the distinction between th...One has to keep in mind the distinction between the value of an activity relative to some set of desires, and the value of the desires that the activity fulfills.<BR/><BR/>Certainly, we engage in these activities because they are such as to fulfill our desires.<BR/><BR/>But the real question is: Should we desire these things? Is it not better to have desires that are fulfilled by actions that promote truth and reason, than desires that are fulfilled by watching fictitious entities move around on a screen?<BR/><BR/>The ultimate reason for my closing sentence is that the forces of darkness and superstition are 'winning' in politics precisely because, while they are spending their money and time promoting darkness and mysticism, those who would oppose them are watching American Idol and playing World of Warcraft.<BR/><BR/>Though I have no objection to spending some time playing the fiddle, it may be better to be doing this at a time other than when Rome is burning.Alonzo Fyfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05687777216426347054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post-82506061669368583432008-01-05T12:30:00.000-07:002008-01-05T12:30:00.000-07:00Miguel,I agree with you that Alonzo’s main point i...Miguel,<BR/>I agree with you that Alonzo’s main point is to resolve to waste less time. I have no quarrel with that concept. Probably everyone has something that they consider a waste of time. I consider time spent unpleasantly with nothing to show for it to be a waste of time.<BR/>On the other hand if I experience something that makes me laugh, or simply feel good about life, I don’t consider that a waste of time, even if it doesn’t fulfill future or other’s desires.<BR/>While it wasn’t Alonzo’s main point, his suggestion that computer games or television sports are a waste of time seemed to imply there is something in these pursuits that is inherently worthless.<BR/>Since many people derive real pleasure from them, to dismiss them as worthless, it appeared as though our desire utilitarian may believe that the only goals worth pursuing are those contributing to the future or to others. I wanted to give him an opportunity to comment on his views on the value of desire fulfillment which involves only an end, not means for other ends.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post-88564816957704775112008-01-04T18:07:00.000-07:002008-01-04T18:07:00.000-07:00It would seem like the activity you pick to replac...It would seem like the activity you pick to replace would fall lower on your own sense of values than others. Fyfe seemed to me to be suggesting that a gradual moving away from leisurely activities that you deem more of a waste of time to activities that you deem more beneficial to society. <BR/><BR/>If you don't consider playing computer games a waste of time, then is there any other current action that you would consider a waste of your time? Most people can name at least a few such activities they pursue in their lives. I think Fyfe's suggestion is to try starting there.Uber Miguelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17903598951047377349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post-12534099045796226322008-01-02T21:10:00.000-07:002008-01-02T21:10:00.000-07:00Alonzo,While I cannot argue that fulfilling a desi...Alonzo,<BR/><BR/>While I cannot argue that fulfilling a desire that helps fulfill future desires and the desires of others is not more utilitarian than fulfilling a desire that does not do these things, to call any such desire lacking this characteristic a waste of time is rather curious. If desire fulfillment as an end is a waste of time, it would follow that desire fulfillment as means would not derive any value from facilitating it.<BR/>While televised sports or comedies may indeed fulfill no more desires than those of the people watching it, the same could be said of watching a glorious sunset, or quite mediation, or perhaps reading a novel. In all of these cases there is no sure desires of the future or others being fulfilled.<BR/>If anything not done for the future or for others is a waste of time, it leads to the rather odd conclusion that nothing for the present or for the self is worthwhile. Is this really the point of view you hold?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com