X-Message-Number: 30178
From: 
Date: Thu, 20 Dec 2007 10:39:48 EST
Subject: DSS note

DSS wrote:

>On  18 Dec 2007, at 16:58,  wrote:

>> One of my core  theses is that conscious motivation ALWAYS stems  
>> from  self
> >interest

>This doesn't take into account the very  strong evidence for group  
>evolution (see eg. the book "Unto  others") and the research on  
>hardiness in social psychology,  also very well supported.



I have indeed taken group evolution into account, but that isn't even  

important to the main thesis, as I clearly showed. The thesis above follows  
simply 
from the definition of conscious motivation. It is what moves the self,  i.e. 
what is important to YOU, hence every conscious choice is intended to  benefit 
YOU, which means one or more of your wants or needs, the want(s)  currently 
dominant in your mind.
 
If an example is needed, consider a mother running into a burning building  
to rescue a child. She risks her life, contravening the "instinct" of self  
preservation, because evolution has resulted in parents haveing strong  

inclinations to protect children. Properly speaking,  she is not  sacrificing 
her 
safety for her child, but sacrificing one of HER wants for  another.
 
R.E.
 



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