Poll: Are Humans Always Selfish?

[Inco]

Yes we are. However we're also altruistic at the best of times, but for the majority of decisions they are made for our own reasons, which for the most part can be extrapolated to be selfish in some way. This isn't actually a bad thing as some people would have you to believe, there is a major difference between being selfish in your normal everyday decisions and being very selfish when it comes to larger ones. It is those choices where it's best to not be selfish and to think of others. But for normal things, people usually act in their best interests without even subconsciously realising it. It's a form of selfishness as it seeks to advance your own agenda, but it's not a bad form because it's so minor.

Basically this.

I believe (personal opinion and experience) that people who do in fact help other do so to fulfil a specific emotion inside themselves. To make themselves feel good. You would not call it a negative thing because they ultimately helped another for the sole reason of feeling good about oneself.

 

[randomsix]

As a species, we are, on the whole, selfish and greedy, but there is a lot of good in the world.
Not meaning to start a flame war, but the perfect examples of selfishness are with the Christian community: "If I do this good deed, I will go to heaven"

That's not how it should work.

Reason is the only thing that can override emotional decision making and result in an action that is unselfish in both mind and body.

Unless that happens, everything everyone does is always carrot and stick.

 

[Samurai Goomba]

In a way, everything we do is self-motivated. Maybe not "selfish" in the way we think of the word, but the majority of decisions anyone makes will be in his/her best interests, or for his/her benefit.

Inverse Skies puts it better than I could.

Yes we are. However we're also altruistic at the best of times, but for the majority of decisions they are made for our own reasons, which for the most part can be extrapolated to be selfish in some way. This isn't actually a bad thing as some people would have you to believe, there is a major difference between being selfish in your normal everyday decisions and being very selfish when it comes to larger ones. It is those choices where it's best to not be selfish and to think of others. But for normal things, people usually act in their best interests without even subconsciously realising it. It's a form of selfishness as it seeks to advance your own agenda, but it's not a bad form because it's so minor.

 

[oppp7]

Blah blah blah the boring not simple answer blah blah...
OT: People do good things, so they can't be completely selfish. Human instict makes us unhappy when things go bad for other humans, so on a scientific level, no, not selfish unless you consider following instincts to be selfish, and if so then unselfish doesn't exist.

 

[Stillve]

I'm currently taking a philosophy class and we were talking about Psychological Egoism "...the view that all people are selfish in everything they do, that is, that the only motive anyone ever acts is self-interest. On this view, even when we are acting in ways apparently to benefit others, they are actually motivated by the belief that acting in this way is to their own advantage..." (James Rachels)

Are we, humans, really motivated by selfish reasons?

Personally, I don't think the answer is so simple, but I'd like to see what you think and why

Now there's something I'd like to sink my teeth into.
My assumption is this: selfishness does not exist, because every action undertaken by the individual is ultimately in one's own interest, even irrational or rash behavior- (such as risking injury or death to help another, which may be drawn from morals)
Being 'Selfish' would mean a person is asocial, but not more selfish than any other.

 

[AvsJoe]

Humans are selfish. Especially humans from first-world nations. We (at least those of us from North America) are told from minute one that our goal as humans is to buy and collect stuff, as if our possessions determine how successful we are as humans. And once you have stuff, two things happen: you want more stuff and you want to keep the stuff you have. That is the definition of basic human selfishness and greed.

 

[Cliff_m85]

Norman Borlaug.


/thread

 

[Cliff_m85]

I'm a proponent of socialism and communism as they are the only way for society to move forwards and survive. does that benefit me? no clue, probably. even if all humans are selfish you still can't trust Ayn Rand.

Worked for the Russians........oh wait, nvrmnd.

 

[Cliff_m85]

I'm a proponent of socialism and communism as they are the only way for society to move forwards and survive. does that benefit me? no clue, probably. even if all humans are selfish you still can't trust Ayn Rand.

Worked for the Russians........oh wait, nvrmnd.

those crazy commie Russians, oh wait Russia was never a communist state :O. But But, they declared themselves a communist state, it must be true!!! and I'm the fucking king of Norway.

Don't you have more pressing things to do, your majesty, than mess around on The Escapist?

 

[Mcface]

Self preservation above all else.

Regardless of who it is, ultimately that person can, and would be selfish.

you may do unselfish things, but overall humans are selfish.

 

[Akai Shizuku]

A lot of people are selfish.
A lot of people are selfless.

That's all folks.

Quoted for truth.

It all depends on the individual.

 

[Mcface]

I'm a proponent of socialism and communism as they are the only way for society to move forwards and survive. does that benefit me? no clue, probably. even if all humans are selfish you still can't trust Ayn Rand.

Not to get too off topic, but EVERY communist country in history has been taken advantage of by a selfish leader.

And why do you hold communism so high? When has it ever worked?

 

[Akai Shizuku]

Self preservation above all else.

Regardless of who it is, ultimately that person can, and would be selfish.

you may do unselfish things, but overall humans are selfish.

That's...just not true. There are many who care little for self-preservation, and I give myself as an example. While I admit that this is due to to a mental condition which I will not elaborate on in this post, this is the case.

 

[Akai Shizuku]

I'm a proponent of socialism and communism as they are the only way for society to move forwards and survive. does that benefit me? no clue, probably. even if all humans are selfish you still can't trust Ayn Rand.

Not to get too off topic, but EVERY communist country in history has been taken advantage of by a selfish leader.

And why do you hold communism so high? When has it ever worked?

Communism has never existed in recorded history, and thus could not have worked...because it was never put into practice. The USSR, China, North Korea, the list goes on, but none of these places are Communist. Communism is a stateless, classless, egalitarian and democratic society free of oppression and capitalism. Tell me when that has existed.

 

[Mcface]

Self preservation above all else.

Regardless of who it is, ultimately that person can, and would be selfish.

you may do unselfish things, but overall humans are selfish.

That's...just not true. There are many who care little for self-preservation, and I give myself as an example. While I admit that this is due to to a mental condition which I will not elaborate on in this post, this is the case.

You cant say it isn't true.
Once your thrown into a life or death situation, where you choose the latter for no benefit of your own, then you can.

 

[Mcface]

I'm a proponent of socialism and communism as they are the only way for society to move forwards and survive. does that benefit me? no clue, probably. even if all humans are selfish you still can't trust Ayn Rand.

Not to get too off topic, but EVERY communist country in history has been taken advantage of by a selfish leader.

And why do you hold communism so high? When has it ever worked?

Communism has never existed in recorded history, and thus could not have worked...because it was never put into practice. The USSR, China, North Korea, the list goes on, but none of these places are Communist. Communism is a stateless, classless, egalitarian and democratic society free of oppression and capitalism. Tell me when that has existed.

Yeah? And world peace would be pretty cool too.
News flash, it will never happen, you need to think realistically.