Desirable qualities in a person?
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Desirable qualities in a person?
Few question regarding people:
Looks & beauty aside, what 5 qualities do you most value in a person? And why?
In other words, if a person is to become your best friend what qualities s/he must have? If it helps, split men & women.
A more philosophical question is, What qualities one ought to value, and why?
I have spend some time thinking about Hobbes's notion "Everyone against everyone". It seems that if the circumstances are right, everyone turns against everyone - New Orleans after Katrina serving as an example. Friends turn against friends. Families go against families. Countries against countries. Empires against empires.
Given that a man can sink this low, on what bases does one trust another, if at all?
Looks & beauty aside, what 5 qualities do you most value in a person? And why?
In other words, if a person is to become your best friend what qualities s/he must have? If it helps, split men & women.
A more philosophical question is, What qualities one ought to value, and why?
I have spend some time thinking about Hobbes's notion "Everyone against everyone". It seems that if the circumstances are right, everyone turns against everyone - New Orleans after Katrina serving as an example. Friends turn against friends. Families go against families. Countries against countries. Empires against empires.
Given that a man can sink this low, on what bases does one trust another, if at all?
Truth, Justice, Freedom.
- Dan Rowden
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Re: Desirable qualities in a person?
Rationality, integrity, consistency, intelligence, masculinity - because these are conducive to the development of wisdom and sanity.truth_justice wrote:Few question regarding people:
Looks & beauty aside, what 5 qualities do you most value in a person? And why?
I have no interest in conventional friendships. Such a thing lacks the very qualities I just mentioned.In other words, if a person is to become your best friend what qualities s/he must have? If it helps, split men & women.
There is no "ought" - there is only what is and what we'd prefer. The latter will depend on our goals and values and prejudices.A more philosophical question is, What qualities one ought to value, and why?
It's not really sinking. Altruism and community are largely illusions to begin with; they are, at bottom, things that sublimate individual needs and desires. Self always has primacy.I have spend some time thinking about Hobbes's notion "Everyone against everyone". It seems that if the circumstances are right, everyone turns against everyone - New Orleans after Katrina serving as an example. Friends turn against friends. Families go against families. Countries against countries. Empires against empires.
Given that a man can sink this low, on what bases does one trust another, if at all?
Re: Desirable qualities in a person?
Rational. If you meet anyone like that, let me know.
Goddess made sex for company.
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Re: Desirable qualities in a person?
Oh, you cynic! I've met a handful.
- Trevor Salyzyn
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Re: Desirable qualities in a person?
I like people who make spectacles of themselves, so I can watch. Attentive listeners entertain me, especially if they have an expressive face. Arrogance is always intolerable, so I'd say humility (the genuine humility of someone who's been humbled by something) is necessary for me to find someone tolerable. People who worry about my opinion about them make me nervous, since I tend to pick that up and start worrying about my effect on them; I shouldn't have to say "present company excluded" before I say something. Basically, anyone with a good story or interesting talent -- even if that talent is listening -- is likable.Looks & beauty aside, what 5 qualities do you most value in a person? And why?
That is to say, if I must keep company, it needs to be respectable and civil. Otherwise, I'm perfectly happy entertaining myself, thank you very much.
Re: Desirable qualities in a person?
And good looking is a given, people who aren't good looking generally elude all of the above.Unidian wrote:intelligence, wit, [strike]compassion[/strike], courage, humor
Re: Desirable qualities in a person?
Perhaps I have a more rigid standard. Eliminate all Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, Greens, Christians, Moslems, and all religions that have zealous partisans.Dan Rowden wrote:Oh, you cynic! I've met a handful.
No Atheists either. A True Atheist would not care.
But a truly rational being would be aware of downsides partisans dont see. A truly rational being would consider what life has to offer, and all the other honorable qualities would flow from that.
Goddess made sex for company.
Re: Desirable qualities in a person?
Other than actual disfigurement, looks are not important to me.And good looking is a given, people who aren't good looking generally elude all of the above.
And good luck with striking out compassion when you are old, sick, and in need. Strength (presuming you actually have any) does not last forever. But I suppose you'll stick to your own ideology and embrace your suffering, right? I'm sure you'll be just as enthusiastic about weeding out the "unfit" when you are one of them...
I live in a tub.
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Re: Desirable qualities in a person?
Gentleman, thank you all for your responses.
It seems that most of you prefer intelligent/rational people.
However, I am a bit surprised that no one mentioned "good nature" or "good intentions".
Does rationality/intelligence imply "good nature"? If so, why?
I can't see a relation between the two. Sure, there are some rational/intelligent people who have "good nature". However it is fair to state that there are some brilliant people who are considered to be Satan himself. Hitler comes to mind.
It seems that most of you prefer intelligent/rational people.
However, I am a bit surprised that no one mentioned "good nature" or "good intentions".
Does rationality/intelligence imply "good nature"? If so, why?
I can't see a relation between the two. Sure, there are some rational/intelligent people who have "good nature". However it is fair to state that there are some brilliant people who are considered to be Satan himself. Hitler comes to mind.
Truth, Justice, Freedom.
Re: Desirable qualities in a person?
MANY die too late, and some die too early. Yet strange soundeth the precept: "Die at the right time!Unidian wrote:And good luck with striking out compassion when you are old, sick, and in need. Strength (presuming you actually have any) does not last forever. But I suppose you'll stick to your own ideology and embrace your suffering, right? I'm sure you'll be just as enthusiastic about weeding out the "unfit" when you are one of them...
Die at the right time: so teacheth Zarathustra.
I don't plan on hanging around rotting in the hospital until I'm 105 years old.
Re: Desirable qualities in a person?
In about 50 years -- will you be needing something to do in your old age meaningless life? Perhaps you can help me through some technology while lying in the hospital bed hooked up to machines that will keep you alive for another 20 years.Unidian wrote:Need any help picking out a gun?
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Re: Desirable qualities in a person?
Old age doesnt equal a meaningless life. Your body might be broken - if you didn't take care of it - but your mind is as sharp as it was, excluding severe degenerating pathologies.
Choosing your time of death is a popular concept, because it gives you the idea of control. It's unsurprising to learn that people who are diagnosed AIDS, for example, have a first reflex that is : "That's it, I'm gonna kill myself". Most people think that they can reaffirm a sort of control over themselves, despite having the whole world after them.
You sound like you're taking an appointment. Have you ever considered having your life ending abruptly? You can't live fully, can't appreciate life - despite all it's flaws - if you got your date of death down. Enjoying life carelessly is the best way to enjoy it : if you know you're going to shoot a deadly dose of morphine in your brain soon, you will feel compelled to try to enjoy life while it lasts. Being forced unto enjoyment makes you little different than cattle.
Choosing your time of death is a popular concept, because it gives you the idea of control. It's unsurprising to learn that people who are diagnosed AIDS, for example, have a first reflex that is : "That's it, I'm gonna kill myself". Most people think that they can reaffirm a sort of control over themselves, despite having the whole world after them.
You sound like you're taking an appointment. Have you ever considered having your life ending abruptly? You can't live fully, can't appreciate life - despite all it's flaws - if you got your date of death down. Enjoying life carelessly is the best way to enjoy it : if you know you're going to shoot a deadly dose of morphine in your brain soon, you will feel compelled to try to enjoy life while it lasts. Being forced unto enjoyment makes you little different than cattle.
Re: Desirable qualities in a person?
He was just having a sarcastic joke.Neil: And good looking is a given, people who aren't good looking generally elude all of the above.
Nat: Other than actual disfigurement, looks are not important to me.
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Re: Desirable qualities in a person?
I can list a few.
Genius
Talent
Sincerity
Rationality
Modesty
Compassionate
Good willed
And numerous others..
Genius
Talent
Sincerity
Rationality
Modesty
Compassionate
Good willed
And numerous others..
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Re: Desirable qualities in a person?
Why did you include modesty? What is modesty to you? It's a from of dishonesty, isn't it?
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Re: Desirable qualities in a person?
Ever spend much time with irrational people? I've never found anything good natured in it. I think the relationship between rational and good natured is more or less automatic. An irrational person is a deluded person. Delusional people aren't necessarily deliberately or maliciously bad natured, it's just that their natures tend to produce bad karmic results. So, to me, for that reason, the irrational is a bad nature by default.truth_justice wrote:It seems that most of you prefer intelligent/rational people. However, I am a bit surprised that no one mentioned "good nature" or "good intentions". Does rationality/intelligence imply "good nature"? If so, why?
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Re: Desirable qualities in a person?
Modesty is someone who is not vain.
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Re: Desirable qualities in a person?
So, a modest person is someone who it truthful, basically?
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Re: Desirable qualities in a person?
Not necassarily.
- Dan Rowden
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Re: Desirable qualities in a person?
Then I'm not entirely sure what you're getting at. Isn't a vain person one who has an unreal or exaggerated perception of themselves? And doesn't that mean a modest person is one who has a faithful and true perception of themselves, making them a truthful person - in the sense of self perception?
I'm not trying to suggest a modest person never lies in any broader context or anything like that.
I'm not trying to suggest a modest person never lies in any broader context or anything like that.
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Re: Desirable qualities in a person?
Modesty is the readiness to admit that you don't know the things you don't know and that you can't do the things you can't do.
Unicorns up in your butt!
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Re: Desirable qualities in a person?
It also means they are unaware or ignorant to themselves.
Boastfullness and vanity are not virtues, Modesty is.
Boastfullness and vanity are not virtues, Modesty is.