Johan, I greatly admire your intellect and I'm not expert on this subject. As an engineer, I often take another view. To be honest, this probably just exposes how little I understand here, but I too have struggled with this concept (I was born in SA in 1980). Notice how I chose to use the word concept. You chose the word mindset. To this day, I struggle to see the science behind this and view this as a philosophical statement. If we agree that value implies utility of sorts (whether it being a physical utility or a service), then I can agree that (for example) giving a mobile phone to every person on earth is a benefit to everyone. (A lot of what constitutes value is also based on a trust system.) My problem, however, is that this isn't practically the case, and value is being squatted on by many of the wealthy, passed from generation to generation for only them to enjoy. Also, much of the developed world exists due to exploitation of developing countries over centuries (sure, we can blame corruption and such too, which deprives the poor). Lastly, our resources on Earth are limited. Logically, we cannot keep creating new things. We cannot escape physics. Thus, even after reading your article, this still seems like a debatable philosphical proposition. Maybe I should come to class. :-)
Quite interesting the video of immigrants. Perhaps based on then feeling worse circumstances and seeing that prosperity (freedom which provides thereof) is a lot better in a place such as the US historically than where they originally came from.
Whilst those born within America, don't have much to compare with.
Johan, I greatly admire your intellect and I'm not expert on this subject. As an engineer, I often take another view. To be honest, this probably just exposes how little I understand here, but I too have struggled with this concept (I was born in SA in 1980). Notice how I chose to use the word concept. You chose the word mindset. To this day, I struggle to see the science behind this and view this as a philosophical statement. If we agree that value implies utility of sorts (whether it being a physical utility or a service), then I can agree that (for example) giving a mobile phone to every person on earth is a benefit to everyone. (A lot of what constitutes value is also based on a trust system.) My problem, however, is that this isn't practically the case, and value is being squatted on by many of the wealthy, passed from generation to generation for only them to enjoy. Also, much of the developed world exists due to exploitation of developing countries over centuries (sure, we can blame corruption and such too, which deprives the poor). Lastly, our resources on Earth are limited. Logically, we cannot keep creating new things. We cannot escape physics. Thus, even after reading your article, this still seems like a debatable philosphical proposition. Maybe I should come to class. :-)
Quite interesting the video of immigrants. Perhaps based on then feeling worse circumstances and seeing that prosperity (freedom which provides thereof) is a lot better in a place such as the US historically than where they originally came from.
Whilst those born within America, don't have much to compare with.