“Some things are better than others. We should have preferences that lead us into one future over another. But when those preferences drive us too hard or too fast because we have over estimated the difference between these futures we are at risk… When our ambition is unbounded it leads us to lie to cheat to steal to hurt others…” –Dan Gilbert
This is not encouraging us in any way to aim low in life. Rather it is teaching us to bridal our passions.
Consequentialism would have one believe that the ends always justify the means. In reality when one sees the gross acts of people involved in things like the holocaust or the extermination of the American Indian, realizing that the men orchestrating and executing these atrocities really did believe that the ends would be preferable, one can see those ends did not justify the means.
Adam Smith stated that ambition unchecked will lead to, “remorse for the horror of our own injustice,” in pursuit of the thing.
Acts like the aforementioned undoubtedly cause me to lean more toward a utilitarian way of thinking. When shooting for lofty goals one should not only ask if the ends be good for the individual but if the ends be good for the whole of the population. If the ends will decrease the suffering of the majority then the goal is a worthwhile pursuit.
A bridal puts pressure on the corners of a horses mouth causing the horse to obey the riders commands. Passions when left unchecked are the unbridled horse - powerful, driven, and dangerous to the rider and those close by. As I clearly stated in the paragraph above men with unchecked ambition have and will lie, cheat, steal, kill and commit genocide to achieve the object of their ambition. If the goal calls for the suffering of others to increase, the goal should be abandoned.
Suffering is caused by desire. [our economy is driven by desire]
If one can eliminate desire one can eliminate suffering.
- Buddhism
Bridal all your passions, that ye may be filled with love.
- Christianity
Both ideas support what has been stated. Wish I knew a better Christian reference to stand as strong as the Buddhist one… I am frustrated when Christianity falls short of my expectations. I am comforted only by the words, “If there is anything virtues, lovely, of good report, or praiseworthy we seek after these things,” allowing for other good ideas to be adopted by the Christian who remains tolerant.
Once again this does not mean one should not set their aims high, if one feels it is ones moral obligation to use ones talents to do an ambitious work that will alleviate some of the worlds suffering.
And watch the video you lazy buggers!
