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Notes
from the Open Sewer, Spring 1999 Growth? Suffering? The politics of greed... |
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...thus began the
discussion. There wasn't much debate about whether or not
we're living in a culture of greed in America. It's
palpably evident in the things we build, the things we
support, the way we live. So the big question is, is it
o.k.? Should everyone be required to see the big
picture, or is it alright for the general populous
to live their lives, thinking about themselves, their
children and family, leaving the rest of the world's
inhabitants and their problems to their own devices? Individual choices and purpose... Are there universals? Is there higher accountability? Should one invest in this life for an afterlife, or is it better to live for today (and not waste your time suffering)? Does one have to suffer to have passion in what they do? Why is it that often an artist's best work is produced at the most negative points in their life? Does every life have a purpose? Or are we simply living through the process of natural selection- a state where the human soul is merely another step in the evolutionary process? Do we have free will, or not? Does it matter, as long as we think we do? These questions give a sense of the content of the discussion at the last meeting. Click here to see the reading material and introduction that initiated the discussion. Come to the next meeting if you think this kind of discourse is valuable to your existence. Four hours. Eight people. 37 coffees. 10,000 words. |
