I guess I'm explaining how it is non-material, but I guess it's possible that metaphysics can have scarcity without material existence.
As you say, the point is about prioritization. The reason that Leftists are conditioned NOT to prioritize friends and family is for ideological adherence to abstract concepts.
Though I'm an idealogue myself, I see the purpose of ideology as purely as a model of which to view reality in order to best operate in the world. Serving an ideology for the purposes of serving an ideology is simply madness (or ideological possession).
This is a real tangent at this point but I'm forever extolling the physicality of thinking. Every thought is the outcome of actual physical work done by an organ. Thus empathy does have a material existence, in so much as it is a specific pattern of released neurotransmitters. It sounds like semantics but it has real implications once you get into the weeds of it.
As a metaphysical concept empathy can indeed be theoretically constant and infinite. As a physical neurotransmitter cascade it at the very least has a maximum intensity and a minimum cycle time, and in more detailed examination appears to also trigger temporary adaptation mechanisms that lead to diminishing returns for the same magnitude of stimulus.
Sometimes keeping sight of the physical constraints of the central nervous system is the missing key in modeling behaviors
Yes, this is a fair assessment, but I'd think of it more in economic terms, rather than energy, but the outcome is still the same. Thinking is the very first step of a capital investment that allows you to make more efficient and productive choices.
Thinking forever about something and not doing it is no different than assigning a price to something for only the amount of work you put into it (IE the labor theory of value). The effectiveness of your capital investment is only valid if it makes something more productive or efficient, NOT because you did it.
This is why intellectualism is inherently bad. If the only thing you are doing is thinking, but never producing anything from that thought, then you have done nothing of value.
Empathy can work the same way, where you can expend time, energy, and cognitive load on something that will never actually benefit you directly. I like listening to the Lotus Eaters, even to the point where I will pay them money, but I have zero impact on British governance. They must always be a secondary concern to my actual work and immediate environment.
I guess I'm explaining how it is non-material, but I guess it's possible that metaphysics can have scarcity without material existence.
As you say, the point is about prioritization. The reason that Leftists are conditioned NOT to prioritize friends and family is for ideological adherence to abstract concepts.
Though I'm an idealogue myself, I see the purpose of ideology as purely as a model of which to view reality in order to best operate in the world. Serving an ideology for the purposes of serving an ideology is simply madness (or ideological possession).
This is a real tangent at this point but I'm forever extolling the physicality of thinking. Every thought is the outcome of actual physical work done by an organ. Thus empathy does have a material existence, in so much as it is a specific pattern of released neurotransmitters. It sounds like semantics but it has real implications once you get into the weeds of it.
As a metaphysical concept empathy can indeed be theoretically constant and infinite. As a physical neurotransmitter cascade it at the very least has a maximum intensity and a minimum cycle time, and in more detailed examination appears to also trigger temporary adaptation mechanisms that lead to diminishing returns for the same magnitude of stimulus.
Sometimes keeping sight of the physical constraints of the central nervous system is the missing key in modeling behaviors
Yes, this is a fair assessment, but I'd think of it more in economic terms, rather than energy, but the outcome is still the same. Thinking is the very first step of a capital investment that allows you to make more efficient and productive choices.
Thinking forever about something and not doing it is no different than assigning a price to something for only the amount of work you put into it (IE the labor theory of value). The effectiveness of your capital investment is only valid if it makes something more productive or efficient, NOT because you did it.
This is why intellectualism is inherently bad. If the only thing you are doing is thinking, but never producing anything from that thought, then you have done nothing of value.
Empathy can work the same way, where you can expend time, energy, and cognitive load on something that will never actually benefit you directly. I like listening to the Lotus Eaters, even to the point where I will pay them money, but I have zero impact on British governance. They must always be a secondary concern to my actual work and immediate environment.