tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4302058077294515606.post6765024134715204491..comments2023-05-21T08:15:38.932-04:00Comments on Benjamin Peck's Writings, 2008-2011: THE IT'S ALL ABOUT ME PARTY (AND SCREW EVERYBODY ELSE)Benjamin Peckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060411573921973698noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4302058077294515606.post-69250326505495162132009-12-16T11:35:23.052-05:002009-12-16T11:35:23.052-05:00Thanks for your comment. My satires will inevitab...Thanks for your comment. My satires will inevitably exaggerate things in order to make dramatic points, so my own views about particular questions do not always comes through in them. They are meant to amuse... and to cause uncomfortable reflection about injustice, inequality and hypocrisy.<br /><br />Funny you mention selfishness. Aristotle made the same point you did in his Politics: "Selfishness is condemned, and justly, but selfishness is not simply to be fond of oneself, but to be EXCESSIVELY fond." <br /><br />So selfishness, according to Aristotle, is not bad as long as it is not excessive. And that was your point, too.<br /><br />For my part, I can't help being selfish sometimes, too. Just eating a meal or going to the bathroom can be "selfish," so it's really a question of degree more than anything else.Benjamin Peckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11060411573921973698noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4302058077294515606.post-85569630463663501772009-12-15T17:27:49.564-05:002009-12-15T17:27:49.564-05:00Absolutely hilarious. However, let me say on a ser...Absolutely hilarious. However, let me say on a serious note, that inherently there is nothing wrong with selfishness. After all, we are selfish animals by nature. When selfishness becomes a problem is when it becomes unreasonable. <br /><br />Hence capitalism can work if it is reasonable, or in other words a "free-market" with some regulation. <br /><br />There is nothing inherently wrong with being rich either. It is when you seek to obtain more at the extreme expense of others (denying claims for health insurance because of pre-existing conditions). <br /><br />Great blog though. I loved it.René Monroehttp://renemonroe.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4302058077294515606.post-85029333665894070212009-12-02T08:09:42.420-05:002009-12-02T08:09:42.420-05:00Hilarious! I see you've been reading Ayn Rand...Hilarious! I see you've been reading Ayn Rand again. In short, you've fallen off the wagon. Time to return to the weekly meetings at SPA (Selfish Person's Anonymous) and sober up. This is a serious addiction and if unchecked could lead to you voting in the fall of 2012 for Sarah Palin.nothingprofoundhttp://wwwaphorismscom.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.com