IN> Selflessness Paradox

[Nigel Cole]

On Monday 17 July 2006 05:46, Claribel wrote:
>
> First Person: You perform a selfless action. A selfless action is
> meritorious, and a meritorious action is one worthy of reward. You
> are, therefore, entitled to a reward for your action. Yet, if you
> actually seek such a reward, your action is no longer selfless.

I think the flaw is stated here: "if you actually seek such a reward..."

If someone performs a selfless action, then they aren't seeking a 
reward. Whether or not they get one is irrelevant, only whether they 
are seeking one. If they are seeking a reward, then their actions are 
no longer selfless.

It's the same distinction between someone giving to charity because they 
want to support the charity, and someone giving to charity to impress 
someone else about how charitable they are.

-- 
Nigel Cole
zebekia at zebekia.co.uk
www.dreamlyrics.co.uk: Zebekia