Don\'t be so pedantic. We are familiar with the valid criticism of Mother Teresa, Peace Corps, and you forgot to mention a lot of soup kitchens.
But the point of the cartoons was the absurdity Critchton\'s argument regarding environmental activism. This argument is, based on the prevailing "objectivist" (Ayn Rand/Friedmanian) "liberrtarian" arguments that selfishness and personal gratification is the only valid underlying principle to be considered in human affairs
And, of course, such an argument has a trivial, tautological truth to it, so it is very appealing. We all do things is search of gratification of some sort. But people immersed in the mileau of capitalism seem to always conflate "gratification" with simple greed and power-lust. That some of us may be gratified by other things - community, solidarity, and equality - rather than personal empowerment seems to be beyond the imagination of the majority in capitalist societies - notably the US. Critchton is just reflecting this depressing reality.
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The point of the Cartoon...
By Donahue, Paul at Jan 10, 2008 08:35 AM
Alla,
Don\'t be so pedantic. We are familiar with the valid criticism of Mother Teresa, Peace Corps, and you forgot to mention a lot of soup kitchens.
But the point of the cartoons was the absurdity Critchton\'s argument regarding environmental activism. This argument is, based on the prevailing "objectivist" (Ayn Rand/Friedmanian) "liberrtarian" arguments that selfishness and personal gratification is the only valid underlying principle to be considered in human affairs
And, of course, such an argument has a trivial, tautological truth to it, so it is very appealing. We all do things is search of gratification of some sort. But people immersed in the mileau of capitalism seem to always conflate "gratification" with simple greed and power-lust. That some of us may be gratified by other things - community, solidarity, and equality - rather than personal empowerment seems to be beyond the imagination of the majority in capitalist societies - notably the US. Critchton is just reflecting this depressing reality.
Paul D.
pittsburgh, usa.
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