Self-interest run amok

Ok, let me start with a confession. I am an elderly white male – full of white privilege and very fortunate. I know a bit about self interest. I have it, big time, even when I am not conscious of it.

This self interest, i.e. this primordial concern for one’s own survival, seems to be built into every living species on the planet. If we did not have self interest, we surely would not have survived in a brutally competitive world where others are also motivated by their own self interest.

However, it seems like the self-interest gene has leapt out of control. We in the western world now exalt in our “freedom”! We are distinct, we are different, and we are not afraid to flaunt it – in our clothes, our tattoos, our piercings, our hairdos, in all of our material accoutrements, cars, homes, etc.

Why I bike

I now bike almost everywhere in Ottawa all-year round. Ottawa is becoming a leading biking city, with bike paths and bikeable bridges popping up everywhere. 

I bike because:

-       - I get my daily exercise just going from point A to B

-      -  I create no air pollution while biking

-      -  I have no parking problems when I get to where I am going

-      -  Every person on a bike is one less car on the road (this may be the strongest argument for biking as it gives drivers a reason to be enthusiastic about biking)

Also, (and this may surprise you), I do NOT wear a helmet. To see why, go to www.cyclehelmets.org.

Why I now travel less

I am retired. One would assume that this would be the time to travel and see the world. However, for several reasons, I am now travelling much less than I did before. 

(1) One reason is environmental. George Monbiot spent most of his life analyzing the forthcoming environmental crisis. He then sought to find practical ways to cope with it. For example, when he approached aviation, apart from using more electronic means of communication (phone, Skype, internet) he could see no workable alternative to air travel. To quote him,

When I come to examine aviation, I discover there are simply no effective technological solutions… I am forced to conclude that the only possible answer is a massive reduction in flights (emphasis mine, from “Heat” by George Monbiot, 2006).

To Believe in God

“There is no God” says Stephen Hawking in his latest book. Compare this with the paragraph with which he concludes his most famous book, “ A Brief History of Time”:

“ However, if we do discover a complete theory, it should in time be understandable in broad principle by everyone, not just a few scientists. Then we shall all, philosophers, scientists, and just ordinary people, be able to take part in the discussion of why it is that we and the universe exist. If we find the answer to that, it would be the ultimate triumph of human reason -- for then we would know the mind of God.” (emphasis mine).

I think the problem here is the definition of what we mean when we say the word “God”. If we limit our definition to the mythological concepts developed by the various religions, we can understand why Hawking made the first statement above. However, if we come at this in a different way, we may see why Hawking is talking about the “knowing the mind of God”.