Miss Myra

[Goat]

On the few times we've crossed paths, discussing the wicked witch of the west and after reading Anthem (good read. poetic, inspiring, reference to Midsummer Nights Dream) 1 question surfaces:
what do you got against the commies?

[miss.myra]

I know Ayn Rand hates the commies because she grew up in Russia.


In short, I think that Altruism is silly. I really don't believe that people can do good just because they want to. I don't believe that people will work for the greater good of all others, I believe people look out for the best interests of one person: themselves.

I think Ayn Rand's idea of egoism, capitalism and that whole silly idea of the virtue of selfishness is extremely fascinating, but I don't subscribe to it entirely. I find it easier to swallow with the reality of the way that society exists today that this is much more obtainable than some kind of universal equality, because communism never really worked anyways. I think the societies that are the most successful today make some kind of a halfassed attempt at putting their toe in the water of many different ideologies.

[Goat]

Originally Posted by miss.myra

I know Ayn Rand hates the commies because she grew up in Russia.


In short, I think that Altruism is silly. I really don't believe that people can do good just because they want to. I don't believe that people will work for the greater good of all others, I believe people look out for the best interests of one person: themselves.

It makes sense why people think this way, we all strive to live, to procreate, and pass on our genes. Instincts and human nature kick in, all going way back to neanderthal (pre-dated) cave man days, look out for number #1. At least until offspring and gene reproduction comes into affect, etc.

Also. While people are social, relationships which work on a deeper level (close friends, lovers etc) don't expand outside of a (generally speaking) 12 person, maximum, circle. Not meaning we don't have other friends, just that most peoples brain are incapable of working on a level higher, all furthering why it should be common sense individuals look out for numer 1 and number 1 alone.

arguable exceptions include: family, offspring, mates.

Check out douglass coupland, a vancouer author.
His books raise questions concerning qualities defining humanity, life after god, and perception.

[pbreak]

Originally Posted by miss.myra

In short, I think that Altruism is silly. I really don't believe that people can do good just because they want to. I don't believe that people will work for the greater good of all others, I believe people look out for the best interests of one person: themselves.

don't you think their is a little more gray area than that... true there is no such thing as a selfless act and there is such thing as a completely selfish act, but I think that very much in general people tend to commit acts based on a combination of their own interests and others' interests.