What is greed??

[full time]

probably greed induced in many instances. or just overconfident investors trying to jump on the band wagon, like a feeding frenzy. I've talked to several folks who happen to have the most to lose who are reflecting on those things in life most important to them (family, friends, non-possessions) as they watch their investments go up in smoke. they aren't greedy people after all. they only want what is important in the end.

I see. The numerous folks who reneged on written promises to purchase Florida condominiums simply took temporary leave of their senses and were victims of the "feeding frenzy" created by greedy developers, and the folks who don't wish to pay more taxes to bail out the folks left holding the bag are greedy and corrupt. Strange world we live in today.

 

[traderx]

I advocate discussing greed from a practical point of view. I have asked a few questions trying to bring a real world focus to the concept of greed and no takers.

How big a house is too big for one person? What is the size that if I go over I will be greedy?

 

[scooterbug44]

If you are not religious, you don't have a basis for what is right or wrong - puhlease!

My views on what is right and wrong may be similiar in many cases to those found in religious teachings, but that isn't where I learned them! There are MANY religious views that I completely disagree with and still think that I am morally "right" on.

 

[Teresa]

I advocate discussing greed from a practical point of view. I have asked a few questions trying to bring a real world focus to the concept of greed and no takers.

How big a house is too big for one person? What is the size that if I go over I will be greedy?

depends on what or who you have to do to build that house, I suppose. otherwise, the size of your home is just a matter of what you can afford and personal preference, imo.

 

[Teresa]

I see. The numerous folks who reneged on written promises to purchase Florida condominiums simply took temporary leave of their senses and were victims of the "feeding frenzy" created by greedy developers, and the folks who don't wish to pay more taxes to bail out the folks left holding the bag are greedy and corrupt. Strange world we live in today.

ummm... this sounds sarcastic and I'm sure it is meant to be, at least I would hope. but you are right about the strange world.

 

[30ashopper]

Where do morals come from? No one is stopping you from discussing it from a secular or academic perspective. Hell, I'd encourage it.

'Morals' and a sense of 'right' and 'wrong' are ingrained tendencies designed to promote community stability and strength. A sense morality is a natural form of self preservation - and is selfish in nature.

 

[rancid]

Agree that it is lesser of agnostics than athiests, but agnostics still do not have a defined grounding for right and wrong. What is the source of truth, of right and wrong? You are too smart to use an intellectually lazy answer such as karma (which has a basis in Hindu faith), so don't be tempted.

I completely agree on a religious person's aversion. I mentioned acting for future streets of gold, but it can be further diluted to just making it across the gates. The intent of most faiths, mine included, is acting right for right's sake, not for future reward or fear of punishment. It's not easy to achieve, and isn't supposed to be, but that's the goal.

I don't know what the source of truth, right and wrong are for agnostics. I would guess thay vary by culture and life experiences ( education, family influence, societal mores etc).

Without getting into a theologic debate, I would offer that how an agnostic arrives at their set of beliefs is not much different than how a religious person does it. The individual variations in beliefs (on greed or any other topic) of religious persons are most likely just as varied as agnostics' are.

I think of religion as simply another factor a person uses to arrive at their beliefs on greed or anything else. An agnostic would have a similar set of beliefs that they think are just as absolute as a religious persons.

Don't know if this all makes sense but religious discussions are very difficult to conduct in writing to me.

 

[6thGen]

'Morals' and a sense of 'right' and 'wrong' are ingrained tendencies designed to promote community stability and strength. A sense morality is a natural form of self preservation - and is selfish in nature.

If you are using the term "morality" and "right" and "wrong", you are noting that actions are subject to eternal standards, but the temporal consequences conflicts with the definition of morality. All you are saying that an adherance to such standards provides temporary order. Adherance to a standard is not the same thing as morality. As for self-preservation, that implies survival. Does morality also provide happiness? If so, how much? Also, your standard requires individuals to all understand and agree on a standard, but it does not define the standard. A group of people agreeing on something doesn't make it right.

 

[6thGen]

I don't know what the source of truth, right and wrong are for agnostics. I would guess thay vary by culture and life experiences ( education, family influence, societal mores etc).

Without getting into a theologic debate, I would offer that how an agnostic arrives at their set of beliefs is not much different than how a religious person does it. The individual variations in beliefs (on greed or any other topic) of religious persons are most likely just as varied as agnostics' are.

I think of religion as simply another factor a person uses to arrive at their beliefs on greed or anything else. An agnostic would have a similar set of beliefs that they think are just as absolute as a religious persons.

Don't know if this all makes sense but religious discussions are very difficult to conduct in writing to me.

Agree for the most part, but "religious" people, by which I assume you mean people of faith, have a standard for right and wrong, an absolute right and wrong. If they miss, it's on them, not their faith. It would be like not knowing how to read and blaming the author of the book you are trying to read.

 

[6thGen]

If you are not religious, you don't have a basis for what is right or wrong - puhlease!

My views on what is right and wrong may be similiar in many cases to those found in religious teachings, but that isn't where I learned them! There are MANY religious views that I completely disagree with and still think that I am morally "right" on.

Again, I never said "religious", I said people of faith. Care to cite an example of a faith based view that is morally wrong? It's like I said above, the fact that you think you are right on something doesn't mean that you are, especially if there are no absolutes and if there is no basis for your sense of morality.