Debate Do you believe that everything you do is somehow for yourself?

Discussion in 'Off Topic' started by idiotninja, Aug 10, 2009.

  1. idiotninja

    idiotninja Ancient
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    I believe that any act a human preforms is to somehow better themselves. Even selfless acts like helping someone with a project is still to satisfy your desire to help people. What do you think?
     
  2. RabidZergling

    RabidZergling Ancient
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    Well, yes and no.
    Yes, when we perform these acts they are expressly in order to satisfy our own desires-or else we wouldn't do them.
    No, because at the same time, these are programmed to be enjoyable acts through evolution, because a species that works together is more likely to survive.
     
  3. Dow

    Dow Ancient
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    Yes, I agree with you. I think that self-satisfaction is the meaning of life. If you knew at any minute, that you could never feel good again, would you have any desire to continue to live? That's how I look at it.
     
  4. idiotninja

    idiotninja Ancient
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    If they are programmed to be enjoyable then we do the acts for ourselves and others. But they still benefit us so in a way we are doing it for ourselves.
     
  5. Shatakai

    Shatakai Ancient
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    No, because I firmly believe that in almost every subject, there is no stereotype, no absolute, no one idea or belief that can apply to everyone and everything within that subject. In other words, there is always someone or something that will fall outside the boundaries of that idea. Within thousands of years billions of people have lived. Each of those people participated in thousands, probably millions of actions. Isn't it foolish to think that within these trillions and trillions of actions, there was never a single selfless act?

    Also, don't debates require facts? You can't prove somebodies morals or their true intent behind an action. Hell, most people don't know their intents behind their own actions, so how can you judge others when you can't even judge yourself properly.
     
  6. Dreaddraco2

    Dreaddraco2 Ancient
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    We act to further our species.
    EVERYTHING we do is to try and help our species.
     
  7. RadiantRain

    RadiantRain Ancient
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    Stealing, killing, Genocide...
     
  8. Whisper

    Whisper Ancient
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    There is no doubt in my mind that every single action I take is, first and foremost, for my own benefit.
     
  9. RabidZergling

    RabidZergling Ancient
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    I'm pretty sure that when somebody does one of those, they actually usually rationalize it.
    Think about what you would think of when stealing a car - a nameless, faceless person who might as well not exist for you loses something, but you, and thereby your community, gain something from it. Genocide is the same. Religious terrorists believe that killing nonbelievers will leave the world with only the holy, and therefore the good.
    I'm not saying that everybody thinks they are helping themselves (and thus the community around them) or their community when doing something bad, but I believe it is the norm to do so.
     
  10. abandoned heretic

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    I know most things I do if not all are somehow for myself.
     
  11. a dying animal

    a dying animal Ancient
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    Yes, because even things like selfless actions are actions we decide to do because helping people is the kind of person you are and therefore isn't realy selfless.
    or maybe im just tired and think im making sense.
     
  12. ZANDER1994

    ZANDER1994 Ancient
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    I believe that every living thing on the planet earth does what it does for one simple word- joy. And if it does not directly give the living thing joy, it will, at least, increase their chances of it.

    To me, the feeling of happiness, joy, and satisfaction, is the meaning of life. And, the universe, for some unexplainable reason, wants everyone to feel it. That is why we are here.
     
    #12 ZANDER1994, Aug 12, 2009
    Last edited: Aug 12, 2009

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