Virtue or Sin: Greed vs Need

GP lecture today was about, in general, the depravity of humankind, (even though it wasn't put across to us in that manner) and one of the issues we touched on was consumerism.

What is consumerism?

It is the idea or perception that the more items/luxuries/things/materials we "consume" or buy, the happier we can be, or the better our life is.

So yes, it set me thinking, and today's episode of Virtue or Sin is the topic of greed.

Oh yes, we all know about greed, no? We all understand what it feels like to stand outside a handphone shop and stare, salivating, at the newest, best, most desired for nokia/samsung/sony ericsson/O2 phone. But... it doesn't seem like greed, does it? Greed is so... negative a word. Why, we're only allowing ourselves to dream of possessing a luxury. What's the negative in that? Is that really greed? How do you define greed?

IMHO, that is greed.

Oh, but who cares about my opinion? Who am I anyway, to insist everyone follow my opinion?

Well, let's make it simple, shall we? Let us now look at Greed, against Need. Let us now define greed with respect to our needs. Which is a neccessity, and which is greed?

I was having dinner a couple of hours ago, and my mom was asking me whether I could finish part of her share for her, for she was too full. Now, she barely eats any dinner, and I am usually angered when she tries to push more away from her already diminutive share. I've had the argument with her before, why I should not eat part of her share for her, and why she should eat all of her share.

My reason was that I had enough already.

I was full myself. Why is she still pushing things to me? Doesn't she understand that I cannot have anymore than what I'm already eating? Doesn't she understand that, thats all I need? Her counter argument would be that because I'm eating noodles, it would be "digested very quickly" and that I would feel hungry very easily, thus, I should eat more. Now, is there any truth in that? Does eating noodles make you more hungry than rice? Does it mean we have to eat more to have the feeling of being full? Is it what our body needs? Or is it enough?

My stand on the matter is that it is not what our body needs. Noodles is is made from flour, wheat, which is also what rice is made of. Essentially, they are the same things. I have heard nothing to the effect that noodles are made up of significantly less wheat or flour than rice, and would thus supply less than what our body actually needs. Eating rice and eating noodles will supply your body with nearly, if not exactly, the same amount of energy/carbohydrates/or-whatever-it-is-noodles-and-rice-supply-your-body-with. Whatever feeling of hungriness we have is purely psychological, and is greed at work.

What do you think of my argument? Is it true? You argue, perhaps, that the feeling of hungriness, since it is not voluntary, is not exactly greed. But well, like the case with the handphone, it is just greed in a new package. Wolf in a sheep's clothing, to quote the cliche. You may think very highly of your ability to control spending power. But small victories in deterring you from buying trinklets or saving from buying an extra curry puff is nothing beside the inevitable spending on greed that hits you without even you knowing.

Examples? Well, take studying for example. What information do we need to survive? Maybe how to cook? Maybe how to get food? Maybe how to eat food? Thats about all. Sustenance is all that is needed to keep our bodies going. A constant drive to learn more, to find out more about the world around us. Some people call that curiosity, but in the context with Need, is it not Greed?

What about more material wants. Do we not want more now? Like explained in the GP lecture, we want more of everything. We want better technology. Is whats availible now not enough for us to survive? We want more luxury items. That in itself is not a neccessity. We want more of everything. More of entertainment. More of money.

Is that not greed?

But... look at it this way.

If we were to eliminate all greed, what would the world be like? We would all be eating just enough to survive, without additional gourmet appetizers and everything. We will not be bothering to study anything beyond what we need to survive. We will not be having luxuries items. In fact, we'll just be cavemen, not bothering to live under a roof at all.

Greed is the driving force for progression. Greed is what pushes humans to surpass previous highs. Greed is... a virtue?

Unbelievable? Maybe, maybe not.

Ironic, isn't it. That what truly drives us to progress is seen as disgusting, a sin, a trait to be disliked, to be ostracised. Something we revile, something we hate. Something we would never want to be, but cannot shake off. Isn't that typical human behaivour? To hold dear to heart what cannot be acheived, and scorn what we have, and must have.

Or is it?

Is greed a must have? Do we need it to survive?

Maybe we need it to progress... but to survive? To that extent?

Haha, is your head spinning yet?

Well, it was fun while it lasted. I'm tired now. I'll leave you to your deliberations. Have... fun.

Looking to the future~
+ + +

Comments: Post a Comment