There are also plenty of people indoctrinated into believing that all altruism is beneficial to themselves, the target of the altruism, and/or society at large. That is simply not true.
The truth isn't binary, selfishness or altruism, your truth or my truth. The real problem is people forcing other people to do things against their will. This is the root of most evil.
The modern reality is that we have created a societal structure that has had the effect of expanding the numbers of people that both need altruism for reasons they themselves could have avoided and the numbers of people willing to be complete selfish assholes because not only are they not punished for their actions by a proper system of law (see Tether or media), but they get bailed-out (see the banks, etc.).
Bleeding hearts and masters of the universe are both capable of significant societal decay, witness the US, 1950-present.
Competition is good, so is self-sacrifice. Neither is something to do 100% of your time.
Wow! Caitlin, thanks so much for the story of the Tonga boys of 'Ata! I have long said that the primary instinct of humans is cooperation, as anybody honestly reflecting on their drive along a 2-way highway must recognize. This story is validation for me. Even war perversely utilizes that cooperative instinct as in a "Band of Brothers."
There are also plenty of people indoctrinated into believing that all altruism is beneficial to themselves, the target of the altruism, and/or society at large. That is simply not true.
The truth isn't binary, selfishness or altruism, your truth or my truth. The real problem is people forcing other people to do things against their will. This is the root of most evil.
The modern reality is that we have created a societal structure that has had the effect of expanding the numbers of people that both need altruism for reasons they themselves could have avoided and the numbers of people willing to be complete selfish assholes because not only are they not punished for their actions by a proper system of law (see Tether or media), but they get bailed-out (see the banks, etc.).
Bleeding hearts and masters of the universe are both capable of significant societal decay, witness the US, 1950-present.
Competition is good, so is self-sacrifice. Neither is something to do 100% of your time.
Wow! Caitlin, thanks so much for the story of the Tonga boys of 'Ata! I have long said that the primary instinct of humans is cooperation, as anybody honestly reflecting on their drive along a 2-way highway must recognize. This story is validation for me. Even war perversely utilizes that cooperative instinct as in a "Band of Brothers."