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Why does he have to be in it for altruistic purposes if what he does accomplishes an altruistic outcome?
by 0x44 16y ago
Why does he have to be in it for altruistic purposes if what he does accomplishes an altruistic outcome?
- lepht 16y ago"If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it..." -Abraham Lincoln (http://www.america.gov/st/peopleplace-english/2008/December/20090105173313jmnamdeirf0.1827509.html http://www.america.gov/st/peopleplace-english/2008/December/...)
- 0x44 16y agoI'm sorry, I fail to see how that resolution would be recognizably altruistic from a modern perspective. Had Abraham Lincoln "saved" the Union without freeing any slaves, there would have been no philanthropic regard for others, it would have instead been the government capitulating to monied interests. That Abraham Lincoln was willing to sacrifice an altruistic and noble outcome for political expediency shouldn't detract from the actual good freeing the slaves wrought. To be fair, I'm a consequentialist, we might be arguing morality at cross-purposes.
- lepht 16y ago>That Abraham Lincoln was willing to sacrifice an altruistic and noble outcome for political expediency shouldn't detract from the actual good freeing the slaves wrought. Exactly. My quote was an example to support the sentiment of your post, not argue against it. Ultimately the end result and lasting impact was the freeing of the slaves, history and time rendered Abe's intentions/motivations nearly irrelevant outside of historical study.
- 0x44 16y agoAha! My apologies, I should have realized.