Comments on: Buckley, Individualism, and Gratitude http://micahtillman.com/2008/02/29/buckley-individualism-and-gratitude/ Philosophy, Politics, Religion, Etc. Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:54:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Micah Tillman http://micahtillman.com/2008/02/29/buckley-individualism-and-gratitude/#comment-1695 Micah Tillman Mon, 03 Mar 2008 01:32:52 +0000 http://micahtillman.com/2008/02/29/buckley-individualism-and-gratitude/#comment-1695 Mat-- You just proved my point. You just described what they did as something <em>they</em> did., not as something "we" did. Thus you can feel grateful to them. What I have a problem with is people taking credit and blame for things other people do. Jeff-- <blockquote>Couldn’t we use the word “we” in such a way as to identify with someone who did something we didn’t or couldn’t do?</blockquote> No. <blockquote>Couldn’t I express grattitude that somebody within my crowd did something I could not have done . . . .</blockquote> Sure you can. You can always feel grateful to other people for things you don't see yourself as having done. It's using the semantics of "we" to take credit or blame for things you didn't do that bothers me. <blockquote>The greatest teams, and groups are diverse; they accomplish more than the individuals who comprised it ever could have.</blockquote> Your statement assumes you can talk about what "teams" do. That's exactly what I'm claiming is impossible. A "team" isn't a thing, and therefore can't do anything. Mat–
You just proved my point. You just described what they did as something they did., not as something “we” did. Thus you can feel grateful to them. What I have a problem with is people taking credit and blame for things other people do.

Jeff–

Couldn’t we use the word “we” in such a way as to identify with someone who did something we didn’t or couldn’t do?

No.

Couldn’t I express grattitude that somebody within my crowd did something I could not have done . . . .

Sure you can. You can always feel grateful to other people for things you don’t see yourself as having done.

It’s using the semantics of “we” to take credit or blame for things you didn’t do that bothers me.

The greatest teams, and groups are diverse; they accomplish more than the individuals who comprised it ever could have.

Your statement assumes you can talk about what “teams” do. That’s exactly what I’m claiming is impossible. A “team” isn’t a thing, and therefore can’t do anything.

]]> By: Mat http://micahtillman.com/2008/02/29/buckley-individualism-and-gratitude/#comment-1686 Mat Sun, 02 Mar 2008 02:25:44 +0000 http://micahtillman.com/2008/02/29/buckley-individualism-and-gratitude/#comment-1686 I agree with Jeff. I have long thought that your idea on "we" may be a little much. We do belong to groups and think of ourselves in the context of those groups. For example, I am a member of a faculty of over 100 people. Some of those people are bad employees and I am thus not grateful for their contributions to my students' learning. Conversely, there are great teachers for whom I am grateful. I am grateful that they are teaching my students in manner that is successful and I am grateful for their example to me as their peer. They are no different from me. We are all part of the same group. I can find no other way to describe this group other than "we." I agree with Jeff. I have long thought that your idea on “we” may be a little much. We do belong to groups and think of ourselves in the context of those groups. For example, I am a member of a faculty of over 100 people. Some of those people are bad employees and I am thus not grateful for their contributions to my students’ learning. Conversely, there are great teachers for whom I am grateful. I am grateful that they are teaching my students in manner that is successful and I am grateful for their example to me as their peer. They are no different from me. We are all part of the same group. I can find no other way to describe this group other than “we.”

]]> By: jeffsdeepthoughts http://micahtillman.com/2008/02/29/buckley-individualism-and-gratitude/#comment-1680 jeffsdeepthoughts Sat, 01 Mar 2008 12:09:29 +0000 http://micahtillman.com/2008/02/29/buckley-individualism-and-gratitude/#comment-1680 That's a great quote by Buckley- I'm wondering if you're making assumptions, though, about the person who uses the word "we". Couldn't we use the word "we" in such a way as to identify with someone who did something we didn't or couldn't do? The greatest teams, and groups are diverse; they accomplish more than the individuals who comprised it ever could have. Couldn't I express grattitude that somebody within my crowd did something I could not have done or that collectively we accomplished something we could not have if we'd not been aligned? That’s a great quote by Buckley-
I’m wondering if you’re making assumptions, though, about the person who uses the word “we”. Couldn’t we use the word “we” in such a way as to identify with someone who did something we didn’t or couldn’t do?
The greatest teams, and groups are diverse; they accomplish more than the individuals who comprised it ever could have. Couldn’t I express grattitude that somebody within my crowd did something I could not have done or that collectively we accomplished something we could not have if we’d not been aligned?

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