Posted in seeker, tagged median way, my vow, practical morality on March 28, 2008 | 11 Comments »
I keep thinking about how astonishingly rich I would be if I lived at the average level of wealth for a US citizen, and I just can’t do it. So I’m interpreting my vow this way now: I will work to reach this country’s average wealth, but then I will live by the median income [...]
Posted in seeker, tagged median way, my vow, practical morality on March 24, 2008 | 3 Comments »
I could say “average is rich” is a spiritual truth. It means we share the enormous wealth of the world, and therefore we’re all rich in a world where there’s no need and no desperation, no greed and no exploitation.
But I believe in practical morality. As I’ve thought about the morality of wealth, I’ve wrestled [...]
Posted in seeker, tagged median way, my vow, practical morality on March 24, 2008 | 11 Comments »
My vow a few days back to live as though everyone in the US had a fair share of the wealth doesn’t bother me because it seems too hard—it seems too easy. It frees me from empty subjectivity. It calls for objective data that needs updating, but I can use dated information for now:
How much [...]
Posted in seeker, tagged my vow, practical morality on March 21, 2008 | 6 Comments »
It’s odd to make vows in the USA. Maybe it’s because the vows that are expected here are ones no one should accept: promises to keep company secrets, to settle out of court, and to support a country even when it’s wrong. Or maybe it’s because our politicians and CEOs only keep promises when they’re [...]
Posted in seeker, tagged my vow, taxes, wealth on November 12, 2007 | 69 Comments »
As a poor person in a rich country, I’m very aware of my wealth: two dollars for a small cappuccino is a treat for me, but it’s a day’s living expense for half of the world. But what can I do personally to help others?
Philosopher (I love that title!) Peter Singer looks at this question [...]
