Was Robin Hood a good guy?

[Ankesh]

My fav author - Scott Adams - put forth a fantastic philosophical question on his blog:
http://dilbertblog.typepad.com/the_d...tlers_dil.html

In essence - the question is: Was Robin Hood a good guy - to rob the rich and help the poor?

What do you think?

Would you steal if you knew you wouldn't get caught - and could in return help a 1000 people survive?

Wow, what a question, Ankesh!

Two wrongs don't make a right...or do they if someone is starving?

There's no such thing as 'never get caught'. You'll know and your God will know even if no one else ever finds out. This knowing, in turn, can have negative influences on other behaviors of yours...a cynicism, if you will, perhaps.

My over-riding maxim is people first. Now, whether that encompasses doing wrong to one to do right by another, is another interesting question.

At least you gave me another train of thought to hop on if/when I have time.

Sandi Bowman

Two wrongs don't make a right...or do they if someone is starving?

What is that old adage about giving a man a fish, or teaching him how to catch his own? I don't recall how it goes...

Robin is largely a fictional character and though some of the stories may hold some semblance to the thirteenth century, the accounts of the government wouldn't be accurate either. Still, it is hard to sell stories about what could have been some displaced nobleman teaching cottagers how to fend for themselves or negotiate with their landlords. Who would be interested?

I think, regardless of how it is glorified, Robin was wrong.

Regards,
Steve MacLellan

Hi Ankesh,

Not sure if you Also brought up the Robin Hood theory due to some recent Articles and Research.

But as you Know...

I Always have to "Twist" things for a little Fun and some Creative Thinking...

Just a Good Learning process in my Opinion!

And Yes!...We Definitely Do it in Life and in Business in a round about way...

As You'll read in the Following...

Some Good research and Maybe some interesting Story telling for your Publications...

Study reveals "Robin Hood impulse" in human nature
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNe...1?feedType=RSS

MarketWatch: Robin Hood Shafts Subprime Sheriff
http://www.elliottwave.com/features/...d=3004*time=pm

The legend of Robin Hood
How the leaders of the hedge fund world have banded together to fight poverty - taking gobs of money from the rich, applying strict financial metrics in giving it away, and making philanthropy cool among the business elite.
http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortu...6204/index.htm

Phil

Steve, as I recall, the saying you're referring to goes thus:

Give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.

I did NOT mean to imply that it was right to steal from someone to feed one who is starving. I was merely asking questions. Personally, I believe begging would be better than stealing if push came to shove. Neither being necessary would be best, of course, because then we'd be living in a kinder, gentler, world.

In an ideal world, there'd be no need for coveting what another has, no need for wars (which is just a variation of the theme on a larger scale), and so on. Instead of fighting, cooperation should be the name of the game for the good of all. No, I'm not talking about communism either (which is just a variant of the old rob peter to pay paul story). Cooperation with one another to achieve individual development and goals is the best model for a successful, sustainable, community, IMHO.

Sandi Bowman

Forgive me if I am mistaken but I don't remember Robin stealing from the "rich" as the story is often related. He stole from the government only what they had stolen (taxed) from the people. Yes I believe the argument could be make in favor of Robin.

[Ankesh]

Thanks all.

To fully understand Property Rights we first need to grasp certain definitions.

Property: What is earned, made, created, bought, inherited, given, trade for and already owned, all without coercion.

Infringe: Take, damage and/or control the use of, without uncoerced permission.

With these two definitions we now have Property Rights as...

What I earn, make, create, buy, inherit, am given, trade for and already own, all without coercion, is My property and no person shall infringe upon it.

A Violation of an individual's Property Rights is Wrong.

- Michael Ross

I've got to say - over the years - Michael Ross has got into my head

You have to protect property rights at all costs. Thus stealing is bad no matter what the reasons for it are.

The kicker that helps: You never know what the results of your deeds will be.

One may think that he is saving a 1000 people by stealing from people who won't miss it. But what if - out of those 1000 - Hitler arises?

Because you never know the end result, its necessary to have a fixed set of rules that should be followed all the time. And the fairest rules are based on "Protecting Property Rights."

Disclosure: I'm guilty of not following the rules all the time too...

Sandi,

Thanks for your comments.

WARS are caused by governments. Right now there is never a Need for war, but they happen anyway.

There is nothing wrong with Coveting, as long as you do not take Wrong Action upon your desires. Wrong Action being to infringe upon someone else's property rights. Right Action being to use the desire to Rightfully Acquire your own copy of the coveted item.

What hope is there to preventing Coverting and Wrong Action when the government does it on a Mass scale. It is imprinted upon our psyche.

You can talk about right and wrong and knowing the difference... and I'll agree with you. People should be held accountable for their actions and wrongful actions. However, just as a child is imprinted and brainwashed with religion, it also absorbs that coveting and taking wrongful action to obtain the coveted item is okay - it sees it go on on a daily basis without repercussions.

cooperation should be the name of the game for the good of all

According to WHOM? And WHO judges what is good for me?

In any transaction, the name of the game should actually be... to the best YOU can get from mutual agreeable and uncoerced dealings.

Otherwise you turn me into my Brother's Keeper and force me to look after his interests in any deal we make. To Compromise.

Let me tell you about Compromise... there is no such thing. What you call Compromise actually means, one person gains at the expense of another. Because it stems from a Have giving up something tangible to a Have Not, while all the Have Not gave was their Desire - their coveting.

E.g. A company pays its workers $20 an hour. The workers WANT $30. The "Let's compromise" phrase it heard and suggested Compromise of $25 is bandied about. Maybe even agreed to.

All that happened was... the workers gave up their Desire - they lost nothing. But in reality and in a very real and tangible way, the company lost for no gain. It COST the company but not the worker.

THAT is what Compromise is when it is stripped of its Feel Good clothing.

Cooperation with one another to achieve individual development and goals is the best model for a successful, sustainable, community, IMHO

Why is this the "best model for a successful, sustainable, community"? What REASONING do you have to back up your general statement?

Doesn't this just turn me into my brother's keeper again. Needing to co-operate with him so he can achieve his goals and desires. Doesn't it turn me into a sacrificial animal giving up my life and efforts for the desires and goals of others? Placing Their Need above my own? And what is so righteous about that? Why is that a good thing?

Michael Ross

Mr. Ross, while I agree with some statements you have made, I disagree with the following:

Originally Posted by MichaelRoss

There is nothing wrong with Coveting, as long as you do not take Wrong Action upon your desires.

Isn't coveting the very seed that grows toward the fulfillment of the desire?

Can't a desire be fulfilled in a wrong way or a right way?

Originally Posted by S1ERRA

Mr. Ross, while I agree with some statements you have made, I disagree with the following:



Isn't coveting the very seed that grows toward the fulfillment of the desire?