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Greed
May 1, 2013 9:07:39 GMT -5
Post by beth on May 1, 2013 9:07:39 GMT -5
Wikipedia: Greed is the inordinate desire to possess wealth, goods, or objects of abstract value with the intention to keep it for one's self, far beyond the dictates of basic survival and comfort. It is applied to a markedly high desire for and pursuit of wealth, status, and power. As a secular psychological concept, greed is, similarly, an inordinate desire to acquire or possess more than one needs. It is typically used to criticize those who seek excessive material wealth, although it may apply to the need to feel more excessively moral, social, or otherwise better than someone else. _________________________________________________________
Let's keep the definition secular for now. That way, it's harder to say there's nothing really wrong with Greed except as religion dictates.
Now ... go back and read "Four Psychologists at the Gates of Hell".
Please use this thread to give your thoughts on greed - whether or not it is the downfall of human kind and positive evolution, etc..
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Greed
May 2, 2013 1:56:16 GMT -5
Post by mouse on May 2, 2013 1:56:16 GMT -5
"""may apply to the need to feel more excessively moral, social, or otherwise better than someone else.""" any one who feels they NEED to feel superior by flaunting wealth/moral/social/educational standards......is obviously inferior and knows it....and they flaunt to reinforce their own questionable superiority to them selves I don't like greed because with that mindset enough is never enough..and never will be enough because they are fighting them selves
its rather like a little girl in a pretty party dress who has been told by parents she looks lovely and is the prettiest girl at the party....she then preens herself and asks every one do you think I look pretty..isn't this a lovely dress blah blah and who is so intent on getting favourable comments she doesn't get to enjoy the party
""give your thoughts on greed - whether or not it is the downfall of human kind and positive evolution, etc""..I think greed is bad..its not the downfall of human kind nor is it particularily a positive thing.... coporate greed causes a great deal of misery and unhappiness...the greed of the money lender causes much misery and unhappiness the greed of states punishes the tax payer...the greed of material wealth by state or individual...doesn't produce much in the way of positives
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Jessiealan
xr
Member of the Month, October 2013
Posts: 8,726
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Greed
May 2, 2013 17:40:25 GMT -5
Post by Jessiealan on May 2, 2013 17:40:25 GMT -5
That is a very apt description, mouse. Furthermore, the little girl will always be concerned about being the prettiest at the parties and quite possibly earn the dislike of her peers.
I read 4 Psychologists at the Gates of Hell and it takes things even farther. What would we trade for the glitter of gold? These siblings traded their honesty and judgement and ethics and capability. Then, in the end, were left with nothing. At first it looked like a good trade, a lot of golden eggs for very little, just cooperation. But, in fact, they figuratively sold themselves.
I remember when we were younger, we wanted a lot of things. We wanted a big house and we had one for a time. But, then it became more of a burden than a pleasure. As we get older, we appreciate little things more, and people always mean more than material possessions.
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Greed
May 3, 2013 2:56:17 GMT -5
Post by mouse on May 3, 2013 2:56:17 GMT -5
""I remember when we were younger, we wanted a lot of things. We wanted a big house and we had one for a time. But, then it became more of a burden than a pleasure. As we get older, we appreciate little things more, and people always mean more than material possessions.""
exactly Jessie...but there are those who never grow out of trying to impress others with their material things and in acquiring material things .. lose honesty and judgement and ethics and capability and are left with goodies..which is a poor exchange many years ago I was talking to a then elderly couple who had come here as refugees from hitlers Europe[about 6-7 yrs previously]...they came with nothing and started a market stall....later they rented a small shop from which they made so every one thought a poor living...to cut a long story short they made a good living from the shop and had invested well..but they continued to live above the shop and to all intents lived a frugal life I asked them why they continued to live such a poor life...they told me that back home they had been successful..they had been greedy for the good things in life with lots of show in the type of house they lived..the car they drove etc and because they were so obviously well off they were a target.... on the lists of those to be picked up and exterminated and their good confiscated and so had decided if they survived they would never again be greedy for the good things..that they would be more moral in their dealings than they had been..they would be circumspect instead of flaunting.... they had nearly lost their lives through greed.....
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Greed
May 5, 2013 10:17:36 GMT -5
Post by beth on May 5, 2013 10:17:36 GMT -5
I wanted to hav e a little think before posting on this one. I don't consider a girl with a nice party dress and good lucks "greedy". She could be self-centered which might cause her to be self-conscious to the point she was uncomfortable but "greedy" means an obsession with more and more and more of ... whatever .. possessions, money, positive attention, in some unfortunate cases .. negative attention ... etc.. Violet in Willy Wonka, for example.
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Greed
May 8, 2013 3:18:49 GMT -5
Post by mouse on May 8, 2013 3:18:49 GMT -5
self obsessed and greedy for attention.... we see these types constantly in the media greedy for publicity greedy for their 5mins of fame..the me me me third rate slebs
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Greed
May 10, 2013 16:12:16 GMT -5
Post by beth on May 10, 2013 16:12:16 GMT -5
Well, that's undoubtedly true. I have to wonder whether the whole concept of greed (I'm thinking mostly in the material sense) begets envy and, therefore, is the root of the "love of money is the root of all evil" sentiment. Is "love of money" just another way to say greed?
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