My Theory of Human Nature

[Tiger Bass 5,000+ posts]

Basically, I believe that it is human nature to be self motivated. In that, all the actions made by someone are done in their own best interest.

Whenever a person decides to do something, they go through a list of the possible actions and the consequences that will result from each one respectively. After they have valued each action, they will commence with the one that appears most ideal, beneficial, and will provide the greatest amount of pleasure to them at that time.

One example of this would be when someone tries to decide whether or not they should stop smoking cigarettes. They know if they stop smoking, they will increase their life expectancy and live a much healthier life in the long run. However, they also realize that it means giving up something that provides them instant satisfaction and that it may not be ideal for them to go through the withdrawal symptoms.

So since the level of pleasure and satisfaction gained are part of the decision towards selfish acts, I do not believe that even "Good Samaritans" are selfless. These people find pleasure by helping other people in distress or simply find the consequences of not helping less desirable, such as guilt or nagging from their spouse. They may also choose to help someone in distress because they think it will improve their chances to get into heaven or provide good karma. If they did not gain any sort of pleasure or sense of accomplishment that is greater than the consequences of not helping the person in need, they simply would not do it.

Even a father sacrificing his life to save his son is selfish. At the moment that the father decides to make the decision, the happiness he gains from knowing that his son will get to live out his life is greater than him living out the rest of his own.

Kind of curious as to what you guys think about this. Want to hear some of yalls thoughts if you've ever gave any consideration to this.

And here's to hoping for a semi-intelligent conversation out of this.

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[HitManSE 10+ year member]

You're high arnt you?

 

[Tiger Bass 5,000+ posts]

No actually

But I was when I first started thinking about this a week or so ago

 

[I want SExxx 10+ year member]

That's what I was about to say but yea....... I used to smoke a lot........ and I know what ya mean..... the human mind is crazy when you think about it. I do however think that you can do something selfless without it benefiting you in any way, but in the end everyone is out for number one.

 

[Tiger Bass 5,000+ posts]

That's what I was about to say but yea....... I used to smoke a lot........ and I know what ya mean..... the human mind is crazy when you think about it. I do however think that you can do something selfless without it benefiting you in any way, but in the end everyone is out for number one.

Like what? (Not to insult you or say you're wrong)

 

[Bloodstalker999 10+ year member]

That's what I was about to say but yea....... I used to smoke a lot........ and I know what ya mean..... the human mind is crazy when you think about it. I do however think that you can do something selfless without it benefiting you in any way, but in the end everyone is out for number one.

I agree with you on that, The other day there was a thread on a KIA with a system in it and they started to bash the person because she was a dyke. I defended her not because I have something to gain or prove but because I believed it was the right thing to do. I didn't gain anything out of it... well she did join the forum to thank me, but I felt that was not needed. I personally do the right thing because its the right thing.

 

[I want SExxx 10+ year member]

Well just a personal example....... I'm not really religious so I don't believe I have to be good to get somewhere. I'm also an ******* and I really don't care about anyone but the ones I love and myself, yet I always seem to help people out some who I may never meet again, even people I don't like. And I don't get any satisfaction out of it I just do it.

 

[azbass 5,000+ posts]

meh

 

[Hundreth 10+ year member]

Your entire post has no real substance, all it boils down to is that people have reasons to do things. It sounds like your point is that there are no genuinely good people, but your argument doesn't necessarily reach that point because you haven't defined what good or selfless is. You can have one person who does things to go to heaven/karma, or you can be like Plato who believes that caring for the community is caring for yourself. Conversely, you can just believe that might is right and use that conception of justice to make your decisions. Either way, there is always reason involved. If there were no reason, the actions wouldn't be selfless or selfish, they would be random. In the end its not about selfish or selfless, its about your principles and ideals.

 

[sue bee 10+ year member]

It should be, "My Theory ON Human Nature"

If you say of, it means that you're inventing the theory of a human nature.

You didn't really do either.

You just said that people make decisions. Which is true. Then you tried to explain why people make decisions, but you forgot to cite the human brain as a reference.

And now for the use of this emoticon:

This theory is shitty. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/graduate.gif.d982460be9f153bb54e5d4cb744f6ae8.gif

 

[ngsm13 5,000+ posts]

Basically, I believe that it is human nature to be self motivated. In that, all the actions made by someone are done in their own best interest.

Whenever a person decides to do something, they go through a list of the possible actions and the consequences that will result from each one respectively. After they have valued each action, they will commence with the one that appears most ideal, beneficial, and will provide the greatest amount of pleasure to them at that time.

One example of this would be when someone tries to decide whether or not they should stop smoking cigarettes. They know if they stop smoking, they will increase their life expectancy and live a much healthier life in the long run. However, they also realize that it means giving up something that provides them instant satisfaction and that it may not be ideal for them to go through the withdrawal symptoms.

So since the level of pleasure and satisfaction gained are part of the decision towards selfish acts, I do not believe that even "Good Samaritans" are selfless. These people find pleasure by helping other people in distress or simply find the consequences of not helping less desirable, such as guilt or nagging from their spouse. They may also choose to help someone in distress because they think it will improve their chances to get into heaven or provide good karma. If they did not gain any sort of pleasure or sense of accomplishment that is greater than the consequences of not helping the person in need, they simply would not do it.

Even a father sacrificing his life to save his son is selfish. At the moment that the father decides to make the decision, the happiness he gains from knowing that his son will get to live out his life is greater than him living out the rest of his own.

Kind of curious as to what you guys think about this. Want to hear some of yalls thoughts if you've ever gave any consideration to this.

And here's to hoping for a semi-intelligent conversation out of this.

nG

 

[Tiger Bass 5,000+ posts]

I reread it and I see what you mean Hundreth. My original point was that all people are generally "bad" and that they will always respond in the manner that gives them the most self satisfaction.

 

[azbass 5,000+ posts]

Basically, I believe that it is human nature to be self motivated. In that, all the actions made by someone are done in their own best interest.

Whenever a person decides to do something, they go through a list of the possible actions and the consequences that will result from each one respectively. After they have valued each action, they will commence with the one that appears most ideal, beneficial, and will provide the greatest amount of pleasure to them at that time.

One example of this would be when someone tries to decide whether or not they should stop smoking cigarettes. They know if they stop smoking, they will increase their life expectancy and live a much healthier life in the long run. However, they also realize that it means giving up something that provides them instant satisfaction and that it may not be ideal for them to go through the withdrawal symptoms.

So since the level of pleasure and satisfaction gained are part of the decision towards selfish acts, I do not believe that even "Good Samaritans" are selfless. These people find pleasure by helping other people in distress or simply find the consequences of not helping less desirable, such as guilt or nagging from their spouse. They may also choose to help someone in distress because they think it will improve their chances to get into heaven or provide good karma. If they did not gain any sort of pleasure or sense of accomplishment that is greater than the consequences of not helping the person in need, they simply would not do it.

Even a father sacrificing his life to save his son is selfish. At the moment that the father decides to make the decision, the happiness he gains from knowing that his son will get to live out his life is greater than him living out the rest of his own.

Kind of curious as to what you guys think about this. Want to hear some of yalls thoughts if you've ever gave any consideration to this.

And here's to hoping for a semi-intelligent conversation out of this.

 

[sue bee 10+ year member]

I reread it and I see what you mean Hundreth. My original point was that all people generally "bad" and that they will always respond in the manner that gives them the most self satisfaction.

"Drugs are baaad, mmmkay?"

If you like theory so much, you should take a philosophy class and learn other peoples theories. They're much better than yours. And yes, the issue of human nature being "bad" has been covered.

 

[Hundreth 10+ year member]

"Drugs are baaad, mmmkay?"
If you like theory so much, you should take a philosophy class and learn other peoples theories. They're much better than yours. And yes, the issue of human nature being "bad" has been covered.

Yeah, definitely learn what other people said on the subject before drawing any weird conclusions on something as vast as human nature. Its been covered since the ancients until about a few years ago when people stopped giving a shit about questions of morality.