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From: mms1646@acf4.UUCP (Michael M. Sykora)
Newsgroups: net.politics.theory
Subject: Re: What is "capitalism"? (Explorations of "self-interest")
Message-ID: <2380037@acf4.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 16-Jun-85 16:34:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: acf4.2380037
Posted: Sun Jun 16 16:34:00 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 18-Jun-85 04:42:04 EDT
References: <298@spar.UUCP>
Organization: New York University
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>/* tonyw@ubvax.UUCP /  2:14 pm  Jun 12, 1985 */

>But on many issues others DO know better.  Baba gave an example of his
>smoking heavily in the past.  There are lots of these cases, especially
>as regards health.

This is not a good example.  At the time that Baba was smoking, it may
indeed have been in his best interest to do so, i.e., the immediate
satisfaction of his desire to smoke was important enough for him to
risk the health hazards.  Who can say for sure?  Only Baba, if anyone.
However, if he denies that smoking was so important to him, I would
be inclined not to believe him, since he smoked anyway.

>Maybe we should call this abstract argument "I suspect that I know what's
>best for me" the argument from ignorance, and add it to the list of bad
>arguments that Rich Carnes is compiling.

Perhaps I can only suspect what's best for me.  But who can consistently
know better, and how?

>Tony Wuersch

							Mike Sykora