Posted: Mar 18, 2014 1:41 am
Deremensis wrote:Philosofer123 wrote:
Agreed. And on pages 11-12, I develop my own guidelines for behavior that are based on empathy and long-range self-interest. In fact, even for those with little or no empathy, considerations of long-range self-interest alone can promote pro-social behavior (again, see pages 11-12).
That last assertion is actually not something I'm quite so sure of. I don't believe that that is necessarily a strictly moral or philosophical view - do we actually, empirically, KNOW that those without empathy WOULD act pro-socially based purely on long-range self interest? For that matter, how common is it for humans to really be able to look at their long term self interest? We know for a fact that the human mind tends to reward short-term gains far more than long-term goal seeking behavior. (In a moment when I have more time, I will search for a source on that, but I'm fairly sure that it's well established.)
All I claim is that "considerations of long-range self-interest alone CAN PROMOTE pro-social behavior" (see above). And I lay out those considerations on pages 11-12. I do not claim to KNOW that those without empathy WOULD act pro-socially based purely on long-range self interest.