Gift Giving And The Critical Thomist Scale Of Values

Gift Giving and the Critical Thomist Scale of Values A Tract Book Essay By Anthony J. Fejfar, B.A., J.D., Esq., Coif © Copyright 2007 by Anthony J. Fejfar Previously, I have discussed the Critical Thomist Scale of Values. That Scale of Values has the following priority: Highest 1. My individual autonomy 2. My rational self interest 3. My self actualization 4. My self transcendence And now the additional :

5. My gift giving

In reflecting upon values one throught four, it became apparent to me that it would be impossible to give someone a gift. The idea of a gift is that you give a present to someone with no expectation of any return on their part. This is the pure idea of a gift. Giving a gift is in a sense an irrational act based upon love, when one considers a gift in the pure sense. While it may not be rational to give someone a gift, I argue that it is reasonable. Rccall our earlier definition of reason as 90 % logic and 10 % love. It is also apparent that one should never be forced to give a gift to another. Giving a gift should be a voluntary act. One can of course also consider any charitable giving in the pure sense as a type of gift.