> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-extropians@extropy.org
you seem to be answering the question,
> "Toward what goal do all humans aim?"
...
But this is based on
> a logical fallacy called petitio principii (better
> known as "begging the question"), a circular argument
> in which the conclusion also appears as an assumption.
>
> I can't find any other defense of your answer, so I
> can't agree with it.
>
> IAN: It seems to follow from Savant's answer that
> the goal toward which all humans aim is NOT selfish
> endeavor to make oneself happy.
This is not a particularly powerful statement, though. All you'd have to do
to prove it true is find ONE human who doesn't have the goal of making
herself happy. This doesn't mean one cannot adopt the assumption for various
purposes such as economic models; it DOES mean that when one draws
conclusions based on the model, one should keep in mind the fact that the
model is based on an unproven assumption.
Bonnie
>
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