From: utzoo!decvax!ucbvax!CAD:tektronix!zehntel!sytek!menlo70!hao!hplabs!hp-pcd!kirk!russ
Newsgroups: net.philosophy
Title: Re: Social responsibility/obligation - (nf)
Article-I.D.: hp-pcd.764
Posted: Thu Mar 17 00:23:54 1983
Received: Fri Mar 25 06:51:38 1983

#R:sytek:-29000:kirk:29700002:000:915
kirk!russ    Mar 11 14:17:00 1983

Your scheme works so long as individuals feel responsible to others (society).
An interesting philosophical treatise disguised as science-fiction is the
book "Voyage from Yesteryear" by James Hogan.  Hopefully without spoiling,
he creates a society without want, a utopia.  The society is far from perfect;
it is anarchistic and basically anyone can go around and shoot anyone else.
Of course, someone who just goes around and shoots people is very likely to
be shot himself.
	His major premise is that people do not need to gang up on other
people if all their material needs are fulfilled.  His minor premise is that
the currency of the day becomes respect -- if many people respect you, you
are rich.  This is also how you pay society back for keeping you well fed,
etc.  You do what you want as well as you can.  People deal in quality.
	Sounds neat.  Read the book.

						Russ Nelson
						hp-pcd!hp-cvd!russ