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Pastimes : Let's Talk About Our Feelings!!!
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To: jbe who wrote (86530)8/26/2000 2:56:30 PM
From: cosmicforce  Read Replies (2) of 108807
 
When I was in college I had this same argument with my Philosophy instructor. He believed in moral absolutes and I didn't. Even altruism could be explained by the internal sense of accomplishment or simply good feeling as a "selfish" act. Heck, if someone didn't get something from an act, I find it illogical why they would do it.

Even throwing yourself on a grenade, a "selfless" act, must be driven by an overwhelming urge to do the "right" thing or to do that which would preserve many more. Just knowing how neurotransmitters work in the brain, this is more plausible than people going around randomly acting not in their self interest and being labeled "good" people.

The best altruism is that which helps both the giver and the recipient. That is sustainable and stable. Anything else doesn't seem to have the right economic motivational factors to be self-sustaining. Maybe it is just the science guy in me saying this.
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