Why is it that the half of the world is poor?

[Muscular_philosopher]

Half of the world is poor because half of the world is below average. The lower quarter is so dumb they are incapable of the criteria for civilization.

[Alun_Aedicita]

@Satyr

Compassion is the self identifying with the whole or the other.
It is a product of weakness, made necessary by unification which diminishes individuality to the extent that assimilation is required.

The larger the unity the more diminishment of self is required and it replaces it with a greater Self.
This upward mobility of unities is what produces complicated life-forms.

So you’re saying that compassion allows for rising complexity, but then saying

@Satyr

Competition in all areas is what pushes us to evolve.

Which is it?

@Satyr

But, of course we need haves and have-nots to have a philosophy forum.
Firstly we need the haves and have-nots of knowledge and insight which causes debate.

Then we need the haves and have-nots to inspire the conflict and competition which results in the technology to have an internet and the leisure time to engage in abstract contemplation.

I’m not saying we should be putting everyone on entirely equal levels, I’m saying we should be putting everyone at a minimum economic level. We can clearly have competition even if everyone has a stable source of food and shelter.

@Satyr

There is no absolute, period. We aspire towards absoluteness.

Then how can you level this charge?

@Satyr

The hypocrisy, I perceive, is that all of you contribute to this competition and conflict which causes disparity and progress and yet you pretend, to yourselves and to others supporting each others moral and ideal self-opinions in the process, that you are interested in the plight of the weak and suffering.
Words and simple donations are not enough. They are smokescreens the mind uses to distract itself from its own contradiction of its own moral system and ideals.

Nobody is claiming to be the embodiment of compassion, they’re openly acting to serve their own interests and trying to take part in building a better world for everyone.

[Lollipop_King]

Alun Aedicita

Satyr wrote:
Compassion is the self identifying with the whole or the other.
It is a product of weakness, made necessary by unification which diminishes individuality to the extent that assimilation is required.

The larger the unity the more diminishment of self is required and it replaces it with a greater Self.
This upward mobility of unities is what produces complicated life-forms.

So you’re saying that compassion allows for rising complexity, but then saying
Satyr wrote:
Competition in all areas is what pushes us to evolve.

Which is it?

Both.
Weakness in relation to others and the environment causes the need for unification and more complex organisms.
What form this ‘greater organism’ will take is determined through strife which eventually settles down to conformity and harmonious, with a few cancerous misdemeanors, coexistence.

Nobody is claiming to be the embodiment of compassion, they’re openly acting to serve their own interests and trying to take part in building a better world for everyone.

They are claiming to be this when they are themselves the producers of disparity.
Ironic, isn’t it?

They want a better world for themselves. Associating self with the downtrodden and miserable is how they ensure that they will never become like them.

[Alun_Aedicita]

Can you elaborate on your final sentence? How does associating oneself with others ensure disparity?

Why is it that you blame people for compassion when you say it is a derivative of “weakness” which gives rise to complexity? Isn’t complexity a plus?

[Del]

As admirable as mr Gates initiatives are, they’re still too small to make any great difference. We should open our borders to free trade, starting with agriculture and then industry. If you’re arguing for less poverty in the world, this has to be the way, token donations will only give a fraction of the improvement these people can give to themselves IF they are given a fair chance. I know the case against free trade would be that the western corporations will only exploit these poor people who do not have labour unions etc., but I think there has to be some economic improvement first, civil society will then grow when people can stop worrying about their daily subsistence.

I think it is inconsistent to say that you care for an agenda if you’re not ready to sacrifice something for it. Most people would say that they care for the poor but hardly anyone is willing to do more than donate a few spare coins. In the case of free trade, the sacrifice would be that our western living standards would probably drop slightly as some of the work we used to do is moved abroad. However, considering our excessively consuming lifestyle, I don’t think the average person should suffer significantly. Farmers and manual laborers would obviously be hit hardest.

So, let the poor work and they will take care of poverty themselves. This is what they want to do instead of being dependent on foreign aid. And accept the changes in your own society if you think this is a just cause.

[Ierrellus]

The things that stop us from recognizing the intrinsic value of others and of other life forms:

1. immediate demands from our own appetites and drives
2. egocentric, but personally self-defining and self-satisfying attitudes
3. separatist philosophies and ideologies that use differences of talent and ability to define one’s sense of personal value

To give from one’s excess is not giving.

[Gorgias]

-CIA World Fact Book says that the average annual income in the world is $9,500.

[Ierrellus]

Gorgias,
If only the average wasn’t derived from some bell curve of haves and have nots. No stastistic feeds the poor. It could be said that the average American has health insurance. Unfortunate average for those who do not. In essence, “Am I my brother’s keeper?”