Comments on: The Needed http://trilema.com/2021/the-needed/ Moving targets for a fast crowd. Sun, 05 Apr 2026 19:22:22 +0000 http://polimedia.us hourly 1 By: pletzalcoatl http://trilema.com/2021/the-needed/#comment-164703 pletzalcoatl Wed, 09 Jun 2021 21:23:02 +0000 http://trilema.com/?p=101232#comment-164703 @Diana Coman, hey, I like "enough of himself to not fold under the weight of it" --a toothsomely (ha) sensual way to put it. @Diana Coman, hey, I like "enough of himself to not fold under the weight of it" --a toothsomely (ha) sensual way to put it.

]]> By: Diana Coman http://trilema.com/2021/the-needed/#comment-164700 Diana Coman Wed, 09 Jun 2021 20:24:57 +0000 http://trilema.com/?p=101232#comment-164700 @pletzalcoatl I think that fits quite neatly with MP's earlier observation at 2: after all, another way of saying that "he is who he is without it" is precisely that he is not fundamentally affected by it, hence he may find (or not) a use for it, if available, but he is already enough of himself to not fold under the weight of it. @pletzalcoatl I think that fits quite neatly with MP's earlier observation at 2: after all, another way of saying that "he is who he is without it" is precisely that he is not fundamentally affected by it, hence he may find (or not) a use for it, if available, but he is already enough of himself to not fold under the weight of it.

]]> By: pletzalcoatl http://trilema.com/2021/the-needed/#comment-164266 pletzalcoatl Sat, 29 May 2021 04:58:04 +0000 http://trilema.com/?p=101232#comment-164266 I suppose by "he doesn't need it" I meant that he is who he is without it. I suppose by "he doesn't need it" I meant that he is who he is without it.

]]> By: Mircea Popescu http://trilema.com/2021/the-needed/#comment-164222 Mircea Popescu Thu, 27 May 2021 16:32:28 +0000 http://trilema.com/?p=101232#comment-164222 > How is this "he doesn't need it" decided even? She said it. > nobody can be given something when they need it because ... they're supposed to take it. That'd be the difference between plants and animals : plants are given water, by god or whoever ; whereas animals take their fruit. Or, to revisit the formal explanation of why Frank Capra was a brusture and not a goat : <blockquote>The talents you have, Mr. Capra, are not your own, not self-acquired. God gave you those talents; they are his gifts to you, to use for his purpose.</blockquote> Inasmuch as he believes that his talents aren't self-acquired, planta's no capra. But no, nobody can be given anything when they need it, and certainly not intentionally ; this is merely a restatement of the fundamental problem of existence, directly equivalent to the absurdist's inherent meaningless of phenomenology or whatever 'patarestatement you favour. The interpersonal gap is <em>ultimately</em> unbridgeable, and this isn't something <a href=http://trilema.com/2021/degeneration-by-max-nordau-adnotated-diagnosis/#footnote_28_100673"">well-meaning mediocrity</a> may substantially do away with. > How is this "he doesn't need it" decided even?

She said it.

> nobody can be given something when they need it because

... they're supposed to take it. That'd be the difference between plants and animals : plants are given water, by god or whoever ; whereas animals take their fruit. Or, to revisit the formal explanation of why Frank Capra was a brusture and not a goat :

The talents you have, Mr. Capra, are not your own, not self-acquired. God gave you those talents; they are his gifts to you, to use for his purpose.

Inasmuch as he believes that his talents aren't self-acquired, planta's no capra.

But no, nobody can be given anything when they need it, and certainly not intentionally ; this is merely a restatement of the fundamental problem of existence, directly equivalent to the absurdist's inherent meaningless of phenomenology or whatever 'patarestatement you favour. The interpersonal gap is ultimately unbridgeable, and this isn't something well-meaning mediocrity may substantially do away with.

]]> By: Diana Coman http://trilema.com/2021/the-needed/#comment-164221 Diana Coman Thu, 27 May 2021 16:13:19 +0000 http://trilema.com/?p=101232#comment-164221 How is this "he doesn't need it" decided even? I never could come to a clear definition for this whole need/don't need. I mean, by the measure of "he can do without" - one can even do without food or water for *some time*, sure but if that's the measure, then nobody can be given something when they need it because by then they are dead and before that they didn't "need" it, did they? How is this "he doesn't need it" decided even? I never could come to a clear definition for this whole need/don't need. I mean, by the measure of "he can do without" - one can even do without food or water for *some time*, sure but if that's the measure, then nobody can be given something when they need it because by then they are dead and before that they didn't "need" it, did they?

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