Altruism is a strategy, the reciprocity-principle. Also happens among the great apes, for the dutchies, Frans van Waal wrote a great book about it ' van nature goed'
Re: Is the Human Race more prone to Altruism or Egoism
Altruism is a strategy, the reciprocity-principle. Also happens among the great apes, for the dutchies, Frans van Waal wrote a great book about it ' van nature goed'
Last edited by Fragony; 08-29-2008 at 11:26.
Re: Is the Human Race more prone to Altruism or Egoism
That is advanced egoism, Frag. What reciprocity would you get from jumping in front of a bullet and dying to save a life? Altruism is very real, but not common.Originally Posted by Fragony
Last edited by ICantSpellDawg; 08-29-2008 at 17:05.
"That rifle hanging on the wall of the working-class flat or labourer's cottage is the symbol of democracy. It is our job to see that it stays there."
-Eric "George Orwell" Blair
"If the policy of the government, upon vital questions affecting the whole people, is to be irrevocably fixed by decisions of the Supreme Court...the people will have ceased to be their own rulers, having to that extent practically resigned the government into the hands of that eminent tribunal."
(Lincoln's First Inaugural Address, 1861).
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ
Re: Is the Human Race more prone to Altruism or Egoism
72 virgins, hall of fame, maybe unconciously the survival of the species. Some argue that altruism is actually an advanced sort of egoism, qui pro quo, cash the cheque later. That is not to say that there aren't exceptional individuals, that brittish soldier that throwed himselve on a grenade to save his buddies. But maybe not even him because he cared so deeply about his buddies, even that could be considered egoistic in a twisted sort of way.
Re: Is the Human Race more prone to Altruism or Egoism
Egoism refers to self. If you help others in order to ingratiate yourself - that is advanced egoism. If you kill yourself to save others or benefit in no way - that is altruism. There is a clear distinction.
"That rifle hanging on the wall of the working-class flat or labourer's cottage is the symbol of democracy. It is our job to see that it stays there."
-Eric "George Orwell" Blair
"If the policy of the government, upon vital questions affecting the whole people, is to be irrevocably fixed by decisions of the Supreme Court...the people will have ceased to be their own rulers, having to that extent practically resigned the government into the hands of that eminent tribunal."
(Lincoln's First Inaugural Address, 1861).
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ
Re: Is the Human Race more prone to Altruism or Egoism
If it is you that cares about others then killing yourself can be a selfish act. Sounds cynical but it really isn't because most don't realise why they are doing it. I donate a lot of money to charity but I really couldn't care less about hunger in africa or hangings in Iran, but I give money anyway, makes me feel good. In the end I do it for myselve.
Ok I am pretty cynical.
Re: Is the Human Race more prone to Altruism or Egoism
Nonsense. Making a conscious decision to die for the sake of someone else is not selfish - that is nonsense.
Last edited by ICantSpellDawg; 08-29-2008 at 18:31.
"That rifle hanging on the wall of the working-class flat or labourer's cottage is the symbol of democracy. It is our job to see that it stays there."
-Eric "George Orwell" Blair
"If the policy of the government, upon vital questions affecting the whole people, is to be irrevocably fixed by decisions of the Supreme Court...the people will have ceased to be their own rulers, having to that extent practically resigned the government into the hands of that eminent tribunal."
(Lincoln's First Inaugural Address, 1861).
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ
Re: Is the Human Race more prone to Altruism or Egoism
What would be a completily unselfish act? If you die because you want others to live it is still something you do because you want something.
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