Hey guys, I'm back! After reading around, it looks to me like the other topics are a little too hot right now, so I'm making my own. What do ya guys think? Are all humans, by instinct, selfish?
So, aside from taking care of themselves, are humans naturally selfish (greedy/corrupt, whatever you wish to call it)? If they aren't, then I ask you this: what person doesn't want to live a good life (good, meaning good in their own eyes)?
To disprove the notion that all humans are naturally selfish.
what person doesn't want to live a good life (good, meaning good in their own eyes)?
Living a good life and being selfish do not come in pairs. Some people's definition of a good life could be to devote it to others and to receive emotional wealth from that. How can that be deemed selfish?
I meant, what is your motive for disproving the notion that all humans are naturally selfish.
Firstly, this is a forum, I am entitled to argue whichever side of the argument I choose. Again, this is a forum, I do not need to have a motive. Thirdly I spent a while studying this area, especially developmental psychology, and the majority of the evidence points to the fact that there is no innate selfishness and that culture plays more of a role in determining behaviour. I am merely passing this on, I have no ulterior motives.
Living a good life and being selfish do not come in pairs. Some people's definition of a good life could be to devote it to others and to receive emotional wealth from that. How can that be deemed selfish?
How can that not be deemed selfish? As you said, "You get emotional wealth from that"; so they strive to get emotional wealth--is that not selfish? Even if it wasn't, I believe that a person is born selfish, thus, that person show signs of selfishness as he/she lives. Even if trained to be unselfish, I believe that it is impossible for a person to avoid the feeling, even if one does not act upon it.
Firefly - Selfishness is not an emotion, it is a motive behind the emotion. Selfishness is defined as being concerned with yourself. Its modern use describes being only concerned with yourself, or more concerned with yourself than with others. So avarice is a selfish emotion because you want money, often at the expense of others. But compassion could also be a selfish emotion, because one could argue that the only reason you help others is to make yourself feel good.
Vert3x - It depends on what you're asking. If you're asking whether it is human nature to be concerned with yourself, I say yes. Our bodies are designed to tell us that we need sleep or food. Our bodies tell us that we need to use the restroom.
If you're asking whether it is human nature to be concerned with yourself more than others, I don't know. If an individual lived his whole life away from human contact, how would he react if he found an animal whimpering for help? Would he kill it for food? Would he ignore it? Would he help it? I don't know of a study like that, but I'd be interested to hear about one that was done.
As for the way real people live... as part of society, interacting with others... that kind of selfishness or selflessness is taught. (BTW... we could argue for hundreds of post as to whether there is such a thing as a truly selfless act, but that's not the point here, so let's assume I mean a mostly selfless act.) If a man and wife are only concerned with themselves and their family, their children will learn the same. But if a man and wife make an effort on a regular basis to help other people and to demonstrate for their children that it is our responsibility to help those less fortunate than we are, that child will grow to appreciate the value in helping others.
My point is this... we as humans have basic urges that compel us to act in such a way that we will live the longest. Being concerned with yourself is the basic definition of selfishness. Whether we grow to become adults who are more concerned with ourselves than others is based upon the things we experience and the lessons we are taught (primarily by our parents).
Selfishness is not an emotion, it is a motive behind the emotion.
Hmmm, ok let me first explain what emotions are and how they develop.
They begin as two arousal states, repulsion from unpleasant stimuli and attraction to pleasant stimuli.
Gradually these diverge into a number more specific emotional states which are normally visible during infanthood; fear, anger, sadness, happiness, interest, surprise and selfishness
However these higher emotional states are all derived from the primal fight or flight response. Biological psychologists would argue selfishness is a genetic, evolutionary trait, useful in man kind's early days and nescessary for survival. Whether this is true or not, more recent evidence shows no signs of innate selfishness, only cultral selfishness. The only true innate emotion is the fight or flight response. Everything else is learned, so it depends on arious situational attatchments, and as Alric correctly said, your upbringing.
Look, emotions are BASICALLY mental reactions to something - Simple, how they develop upon other people is a different matter, when you're very young you will develop into your surroundings, abusive parents = Abusive child, mostly anyway, if one is smart enough to become the opposite it could be a good thing - But how often? Hardly...
And to be as blunt as much as you think I am or aren't - It's a rather stupid topic, yes it makes people think, but if they were asked they should simply become with the answer no, it's like saying are all people naturally happy? You guys need to think a little more - Some people will be and some won't, the only way I can think someone is naturally selfish is through backround, surroundings and DNA Mental thinking....
I rest my case unless proven otherwise, then i'll say more.
