Poll: Oh the HUMANITY!!!!

[Disaster Button]

I believe people can be taught compassion, for instance

A child is taught that killing is wrong, knowledge it isn't born with. (Obviously this isn't always the case) But to be taught it's wrong then they must feel compassion for the person and the impact the person's death would have on the family.

 

[Skeleon]

1: How altruistic are you?
2: How altruistic is humanity as a whole?
3: Can people be 'taught' compassion? Would some sort of conditioning or rehab work?

1.) I help whenever asked for help. I've not yet been asked for anything unreasonable, so I always helped so far (I believe). I'm not a person who actively goes around trying to find people to help, though.

2.) Quite a bit. Unfortunately, people are only helpful towards people of their closer environment. But, considering the old slogan "think globally, act locally", it's already a pretty good (though still improvable) situation, at least in Western countries. Where there isn't easy access to the necessities of life (food, water, shelter and so on), people are, obviously, much more egotistical. This can only be helped by improving living-conditions.

3.) Yes, though not "taught" in the literal sense. It's about improving standards of living, allowing people to stop worrying about themselves and think of their neighbours. You wouldn't need "rehab" or "training", the urge to help is within us all (well, except for a few sociopaths). However, for this urge to surface, we ourselves must be relatively content with our current situation. As I said, further improve living conditions and the rest follows more or less automatically (within 1-3 generations I'd say).

 

[Undeleted]

To expand on the third question yes it is possible to teach others compassion and altruism, but something like "compassion conditioning" will not work. The best way is to lead through example, I guess.

 

[Akai Shizuku]

1: How altruistic are you?

As much as I'm capable of. I believe that virtue is its own reward.

2: How altruistic is humanity as a whole?

On the whole, not very. I do believe this can change, though.

3: Can people be 'taught' compassion? Would some sort of conditioning or rehab work?

Yes, they can. They need only see how compassion to others benefits them in turn. Conditioning or rehabilitation is not necessary, only education and information on the matter.

I made this thread for you Akai as you can tell from the original post. I thought it might foster a little more discussion on teaching compassion thing... but i guess it's not really a debatable topic. There really isn't any research or study to back up either point. Oh well, best laid plans of mice you know?

What can I say? I'm a man of few words.

 

[Polian Pox]

Hmmmm....
1.I really don't like people very much, but I can't help wanting to be kind, though I am a misanthrope.
2. People? Altruistic? Now that's an oxymoron! People SUCK! I have met so many jerks that I just act all reclusive and evil and most people don't talk to me.
3. If you think anyone can be taught by rehab or whatever to be altruistic, then come meet the people on my bus!