RE: [ba-unrev-talk] An approach to a simpler truth.
Nietzsche's version of karma (the eternal recurrence) is delightfully non
religious. (01)
If we reincarnated based on past performance that would perhaps make us
behave well, if we believed it, if we behaved rationally, but if we knew
this was our one and only life? If we knew every moment was unrepeatable?
How well ought we to behave then? (02)
-g (03)
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-ba-unrev-talk@bootstrap.org
[mailto:owner-ba-unrev-talk@bootstrap.org]On Behalf Of Eric Armstrong
Sent: Wednesday, September 18, 2002 6:50 PM
To: ba-unrev-talk@bootstrap.org
Subject: Re: [ba-unrev-talk] An approach to a simpler truth. (04)
V.S.Uren@open.ac.uk wrote:
>
> Re: I've long been intrigued by the notion of finding a
> rationalization
> > for doing good to others that *wasn't* based on religion. Such
> > a thing could go a long way to reduce religious prejudice, as well
> > as the worst of captialism. Equilibrium theory holds promise...
> >
> This sounds like a notion I call "practical karma"...
>
Yes. A belief in reincarnation is a *powerful* motivation for doing
good. I look at it this way: (05)
It's not that I'm going to come back as a llama or an earthworm,
or something. (06)
It's not even that I'm going to come back as some high-born or
low-born person. (07)
It's that I'm going to come back to THIS world -- and I'm going
to have live in the garden of eden (or cesspool) I create. (08)
Talk about incentive to take care of the environment... (09)
But those are quasi-religious notions. At the very least, they
depend on a particular belief system. (010)