I consider myself to be important, more than other people. And it's unnatural to think otherwise. I may express philantrophism in my discussions and prove to myself to uphold the principles of justice and virtue. But this does not override my core egocentrism.
Would I gladly trade my life in for the life of, say, a little kidnapped kid in the hands of a murderer? I don't think so. And even less if I didn't know the kid. What about money?
Would I give in all my money, or even half of all my money, for the life of a kid I don't know? And then the conditions come up: "I'd be a hero...". What if no one would ever know it was I who saved the kid? Hmm, I'd have to think about it. Doing good is always so much more appealing when there's some kind of reward... be it a big bag of money or public glory. So what if there's not a reward? Would I give in my material goods just to keep one generic person alive? My guess is no.
Would I give in all my money, or even half of all my money, for the life of a kid I don't know? And then the conditions come up: "I'd be a hero...". What if no one would ever know it was I who saved the kid? Hmm, I'd have to think about it. Doing good is always so much more appealing when there's some kind of reward... be it a big bag of money or public glory. So what if there's not a reward? Would I give in my material goods just to keep one generic person alive? My guess is no.Imagine a guy comes up to you and says: "Hey, give me half of all your money, and I can bring a starving kid from Africa, feed him
, raise him, and give him a good life. He'll live with me but you'll never see or hear from him again." And you know he's telling the truth. Would you accept? I'd have to really think it over. After all... what good does one more person do in the world? Aren't we overpopulated already?
, raise him, and give him a good life. He'll live with me but you'll never see or hear from him again." And you know he's telling the truth. Would you accept? I'd have to really think it over. After all... what good does one more person do in the world? Aren't we overpopulated already? I think I wouldn't accept. I have no emotional connection whatsoever with that kid, and honestly, I'm not even surprised now when I hear how many people die daily in Africa from starvation and AIDS, or about the soldiers blowing up in Iraq. I hardly care about the daily murdered people in my own city... how could I care about the ones in continents I don't even know? Yeah, they die... poor people... not my fault... why should I suffer for them? My mind TELLS me to feel sad
, but that doesn't work on me anymore. My anonymous empathy has become dishonest.
, but that doesn't work on me anymore. My anonymous empathy has become dishonest.Are we all like this? I think there are still some people who truly believe in giving up their lives for the sake of others. But right now, that's not me.
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