X-Message-Number: 17098
Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2001 16:38:00 -0700
From: Kennita Watson <>
Subject: Altruism
References: <>

Lee Corbin wrote:
> I still would like you or anyone who thinks that our typical (but
> not universal) human sympathy, kindness, or altruism is entirely
> due to self-interest to answer the following question.  Do you believe
> that humans could eventually be bred to engage in acts of altruism that
> were not based upon self-interest?  And if so, how do you know that
> it hasn't already happened (to some degree)?

Breeding, nothing.  Ayn Rand asserted that it happens -- I think she
referred to it as "evil"; -- the sacrifice of one's higher values to
lower ones.
> 
> Also, while we are at it, don't you all sense that you are
> stretching when you concoct an explanation of why a soldier
> throwing himself on a hand-grenade to save his comrades?
> Now is it really due to his selfishness/self-interest?
> (Don't stretch too hard, now.)

Does it count as stretching that the first thought that came to my
mind is that the soldier couldn't live with himself if he lived and 
his comrades died?  Never mind that if he didn't throw himself on
the grenade then he would probably die along with them.  I don't 
think that choosing "I die" over "I and my comrades die" counts as
altruism.  Oh, and there's mental illness and/or brainwashing and/or
conditioning to consider; maybe he was depressed and wanted to die.  
Maybe from basic training oonward he had drummed into his head that
he *must* be willing to die "for the cause".

Does soldiers throwing themselves on hand grenades count as stretching 
for a counterexample?  It doesn't come up very often in everyday life,
thank goodness.
-- 
May you live long and prosper,
Kennita
--
Kennita Watson          | Way Cool Internet Radio: http://www.live365.com
     |      
http://www.kennita.com  |    I eschew arthropods -- so don't bug me!

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