Journal #5
Well, it’s been a little while since the last journal. The show in Albuquerque was awsome! It’s refreshing to play with all synth bands after playing with metal heads and the like for so long (no offense metal heads).
I’ve finally finished chapter 9… and it might be the last. We’re going to talk about it at our next band get together. Either 9 will be the last chapter in book 1 or we’ll go for a couple more. The Envaryan Chronicles art contest is up for all those into the visual arts. If you’d like to be involved just go to
http://rhythmicsymphony.deviantart.com/
for the details.
So this time I have no philosophical anything for you…. oh wait… here it is. Never mind. I’m going to try and make this short and concise. I’ve decided that no human being, past or present, has ever done anything with entirely unselfish motives, selfish being defined as looking out for your own intersts or gain. In other words, no one has ever done anything without looking to get something out of it for themselves. Even doing charity, which can totally have meritable reasons behind it, has some element of self gain. Mainly getting closer to homeostasis by getting your conscience to be quiet. Can anyone think of a completely unselfish action? I can’t. But I’m open to be corrected.
I’ve gotta go celebrate First Frost (first Friday of every October) with Egg Nog and Wassle. Happy First Frost everyone!
Philippians 2:3 says “Let nothing be done out of selfish ambition…”
I would think that God would not command us to live a lifestyle that not even Jesus Christ was capable of. Therefore, using God as an example, based on His character and attributes, I have to disagree with your theory.
I just heard that verse today in church and totally thought about your theory, so, I had to comment.
Comment by Steve — October 14, 2007 @ 10:52 pm
Maybe a differing use of the word selfish? Hmmmmmmm….
Comment by Justin — October 15, 2007 @ 9:49 am
Geez I have to look at this page more often. I missed out on historic inanity as it happened. Ah well. There will always be more.
Can I just cover a few things? Epistles like the book of Philippians weren’t so much the “Word of God” as kind of early church newsletters that were carried around on horseback in the days before email. And the key term there is ambition…selfish is just a modifier. What Justin was talking about is selfishness as a motive for action. Kind of like if Jesus said, “Hey, I think that this thing I am doing is the right thing; in fact I must do it. I know people will be sad and stuff, but I won’t be satisfied unless it happens.” See there - self satsifaction, a “selfish” desire. Just for an example.
Justin, we have talked about this and I think that you have a very good point. As part animal, we are wired to evaluate costs and benefits in every choice. Without that mechanism we would have never survived. The negative connotation to selfishness is a modern invention that we can use to beat ourselves up with. Shouldn’t we just live with it, and live mindfully?
And Steve, bringing a subjective theological argument to a philosophical discussion? Kind of like bringing a knife to a gunfight, isn’t it?
Comment by Christian — June 9, 2008 @ 5:44 pm