If one only sees the competitive aspect of society, then yes, there is no shame in doing better.
But society also has a cooperative aspect. There is no shame in doing better, but you should feel shame if you are doing better AND you are not helping those behind you.
Reaching the top of the mountain? No shame there. Not giving the folks behind you a hand up? Shame!
The real moral dilemma comes, though, when you have to choose between helping the people behind you, or advancing even further in the race, where maybe further on in the race you could potentially help people even more. Sure guys, I can give you a hand up, but I’m thinking that over there on the next cliff there’s a rope and a bucket...
If one only sees the competitive aspect of society, then yes, there is no shame in doing better.
But society also has a cooperative aspect. There is no shame in doing better, but you should feel shame if you are doing better AND you are not helping those behind you.
Reaching the top of the mountain? No shame there. Not giving the folks behind you a hand up? Shame!
The real moral dilemma comes, though, when you have to choose between helping the people behind you, or advancing even further in the race, where maybe further on in the race you could potentially help people even more. Sure guys, I can give you a hand up, but I’m thinking that over there on the next cliff there’s a rope and a bucket...