I have long been a proponent of thinking in numbers, even in humanitarianism, so I was pleased to find this article.
You might remember, for instance, my earlier posts about the wrongness of "heroes" of film and literature being "heroic" by giving in to the villain because he threatened the life of one person, despite that it would endanger thousands of people.
1 comment:
Very interesting. Hugely.
My long-standing dislike for the best known & publicized aspects of Bill Gates made me oblivious to how much we are alike when it comes down to the most important stuff.
And he wouldn't be the first big-hearted jerk in history. ;-)
Empathic myopia: this is what the article describes in the common man, basically. Does this mean I am special, because I too see the proportional importance of mass suffering? Am I the only one to care more about Iraq than Paris Hilton going (ever so briefly) to jail? I sure hope there are lots and lots of people at least as special as me. The more the better!
(And so what if it implies I must be a geek too?)
Each of us can be special. I would never think of feeling jealous. There are immensely more important things to accomplish, and more than enough work for every good-willed person.
It's not about getting praise or glory. It's about doing what must be.
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