tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post114291719219983280..comments2023-10-24T04:29:23.693-06:00Comments on Atheist Ethicist: France: The First Employment Contract ProtestsAlonzo Fyfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05687777216426347054noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post-1142958840129667662006-03-21T09:34:00.000-07:002006-03-21T09:34:00.000-07:00I agree that this line will always be fuzzy. I cer...I agree that this line will always be fuzzy. <BR/><BR/>I certainly reject the notion that, since there is poverty and starvation in the world, no one else should every indulge in some luxury and entertainment. But, I'm sure there are those who would. Have they no case? Is there any weight at all to the idea that we should consume just enough to be safe, healthy, and reasonably comfortable, and use the rest of our resources to helping out the needy? (yes, I know "reasonably comfortable" would itself be a source of debate...)<BR/><BR/>This issue is something I admit I really struggle with. I really have no idea how much luxury is okay. I guess, as you say, I'll have to learn to accept the fact that there is probably no clear answer.<BR/><BR/>I wasn't implying that you should not have gone to Las Vegas. I just know when I'm there, these issues will come up for me, as they did, incidently, when I was in Europe and saw the great number of cathederals and learned about the great expense that went into building them. Ditto for the opulence of the Vatican.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for clearing up the cost of Gate's house.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post-1142940025600975312006-03-21T04:20:00.000-07:002006-03-21T04:20:00.000-07:00On the issue of line drawing, I am quite comfortab...On the issue of line drawing, I am quite comfortable with the idea that some lines are simply difficult to draw with precision. This is one of those facts we have to learn to live with like the fact that some day our sun will blow up and Earth will be destroyed, or the fact we will die. We work with these facts the best we can.<BR/><BR/>Bill Gates' house is $50 million, by the way.<BR/><BR/>I will not begrudge him this luxury. Bill and Malinda Gates have donated $21 billion to charity over the past 5 years. Bill Gates has said that when he dies his entire fortune will go to charity.<BR/><BR/>I think it is quite sufficient to tell people with property that they can enjoy it while they are here, but leave it to charity when they die.<BR/><BR/>That is my intention. I have decided that, whatever my estate is worth when I die, I will leave it to some institution that will promote the teaching of basic propositional logic to children. I believe that this is the best contribution one can make to others.<BR/><BR/>Lesley and I put a fairly substantial portion of our income into that fund. (About 25%) Given the amount of money (and equity in the house) that already make up that estate, the trip to Las Vegas was not all that much.Alonzo Fyfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05687777216426347054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post-1142927153682772112006-03-21T00:45:00.000-07:002006-03-21T00:45:00.000-07:00The idea that nature is infused with some sort of ...<I>The idea that nature is infused with some sort of “property right” that makes it permissible for a guy with a truck full of water that is his property to dump it into the sand while others nearby die of thirst is simply absurd. Nature has no such property. It is perfectly legitimate to redistribute the water wealth from those who have what they do not need to those who need what they do not have.</I><BR/><BR/>I completely agree with this, but I find it hard to determine where the line should be drawn. Compared to a very lage portion of the world's inhabitants, I live a pretty posh life, even though it is considered middle class here. <BR/><BR/>Many live in simple huts. My house is 2,000 square feet and would probably bring $200,000 if I sold it. That's neither huge nor expensive by the standards of where I live, but I could get by on much less (as hut dwellers do). But what if I lived in a million dollar house? Would that be excessive? How about 10 million, or, as I have heard in a rumor about Bill Gates', a 750 million dollar house? What sort of house is analagous to the man who dumps water on the ground?<BR/><BR/>Alonzo just went to Las Vegas. I'm going there later this week. I have a feeling I will be somewhat appalled by the energy, material, and financial resources devoted to glitz and entertainment in Las Vegas. Is it okay for such places to exist while much of the world goes hungry?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com