All the logic in the world can and will not persuade me that we should move away from a more egalitarian society 1, yet I can imagine that there exists some logical set of arguments that lead to that conclusion.

And even if I am forced to acknowledge each argument as correct, I would still reject the conclusion 2. Is this a failing of logic or a failing in myself?

Having seen a few logical chains of reasoning 3 4 that lead to outcomes I disagree with, I now believe that if one has the means or the motivation, it is easy to live unexposed to the reality and conditions that our fellow humans live 5

That is to say: to close my eyes and use logic to justify the inequalities in front of me is not a failing of logic, but a failing in myself.” 6

Notes

  1. Why do I believe that our society should be more egalitarian? Were there not always peasants and lords throughout history?

  2. Plenty of people have thrown away rationality and logic. I’m no different

  3. One such argument is: “the economy is not a zero sum game”. Many smart people have written about this concept and I can not refute any of their arguments. All I can say is: I can see what is before me, and regardless of the sum of the economy, for each and every loser in the game, there are some winners who are unwilling to share. Usually it’s the winners (or aspiring winners) making this claim of non-zero sumness.

  4. Another such argument is: “the wealthy pay the majority of the US income taxes”. I have no counter claims to make. Again, all I can say is: and yet we we have not even built the bottom of Maszlow’s pyramid for our population.

  5. For if we were to see the conditions we leave our fellows and friends in, the heavy burden of guilt would leave everyone depressed and unable to function.

  6. I also don’t think it is my responsibility to address the needs of everyone, but I do like to think that I have made room in my life so that others can live theirs 7, for I believe that to live hedonistically and in gluttony while a neighbor struggles is a stigma of entitlement and greed, not a badge or medal to be displayed proudly for all to see.

  7. but this is only one half of the equation: abstaining from acts that cause harm. I am still lacking the performance of acts that are good.