| Oliver Wong 2006-04-28, 6:55 pm |
|
"Howard Brazee" <howard@brazee.net> wrote in message
news:ull152hm3jf3rnjadnehp8g8sk1pmf3tle@
4ax.com...
> On Thu, 27 Apr 2006 23:22:18 +1200, "Pete Dashwood"
> <dashwood@enternet.co.nz> wrote:
>
>
> It is making the word "value" valueless.
>
> When we leave the ivory tower and look at real life, we have values.
> We value some things more than others.
>
> Zero sum means that any change only increases value of one thing by
> decreasing value of something else. This yin/yang philosophy
> implies that when you pick up a crying baby and take value in that
> baby's content - that value is paid for by a loss of value elsewhere.
>
> Everything is futile. Do good, and evil will be created to keep the
> Zero Sum ledger. Write a program, and it will be balanced by bugs
> being created elsewhere.
Yeah, it's not a pleasant conclusion... But just because you don't like
the conclusion doesn't nescessarily prove that the premise is false!
For what it's worth though, I think if you pick up a crying baby and
take value in that baby's content, that value isn't nescessarily paid for
elsewhere (it might be, if the you do this too often, thus teaching the baby
that crying gets you what you want). So I don't think "values" at this
higher level that you're dealing with is zero sum.
- Oliver
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