Altruism ~ Nature or Nurture?

Originally posted by divegeester
As I said previously, I don't think altruism exists.

Altruism is the principle or practice of concern for the welfare of others (wiki). Of course it exists.

Originally posted by apathist
Altruism is the principle or practice of concern for the welfare of others (wiki). Of course it exists.

How silly of me not to check Wiki.

Originally posted by divegeester
As I said previously, I don't think altruism exists.

Yes, but you apparently won't say what it is you think doesn't exist. Why is that?

Originally posted by twhitehead
Yes, but you apparently won't say what it is you think doesn't exist. Why is that?

Stop 'stroking your chin' and looking at me with those pendantic beady little eyes of yours for a moment and ask the question with some more clarity. Please.

I'm not hiding anything. 🙂

Originally posted by divegeester
Stop 'stroking your chin' and looking at me with those pendantic beady little eyes of yours for a moment and ask the question with some more clarity. Please.

I'm not hiding anything. 🙂

Can you give a reasonable definition for what you think altruism is?

Can you give an example of what would be altruism?

Can you also say whether or not the following are altruism:
1. A man drops his wallet by mistake and it is found and kept by someone else.
2. Taxes you do not support used for social welfare.

Originally posted by twhitehead
Can you give a reasonable definition for what you think altruism is?

Can you give an example of what would be altruism?

Can you also say whether or not the following are altruism:
1. A man drops his wallet by mistake and it is found and kept by someone else.
2. Taxes you do not support used for social welfare.

I've said this about 6 times "I don't believe there is such a thing as altruism". So why do you keep asking me to define something I don't think exists?

When you look after your son you are doing a good thing, but out of self interest. He is YOUR son and YOUR DNA. It's all about YOU.

Originally posted by divegeester
I've said this about 6 times "I don't believe there is such a thing as altruism". So why do you keep asking me to define something I don't think exists?

How can you believe something doesn't exist if you don't have a definition for it? What is it that there is no such thing as?

I'm not hiding anything.

Yet you won't give straight answers to my questions.

When you look after your son you are doing a good thing, but out of self interest. He is YOUR son and YOUR DNA. It's all about YOU.
And?
I am actually curious about this. Why do you believe my DNA is in my interest? I am not my DNA.

Originally posted by twhitehead
How can you believe something doesn't exist if you don't have a definition for it? What is it that there is no such thing as?

I'm not hiding anything.

Yet you won't give straight answers to my questions.

[b]When you look after your son you are doing a good thing, but out of self interest. He is YOUR son and YOUR DNA. It's all about ...[text shortened]...
I am actually curious about this. Why do you believe my DNA is in my interest? I am not my DNA.

Are you being argumentative for the sake of it?

There is NO SUCH THING as altruism. This means that nobody does ANYTHING without some level of SELF INTERST.

Getting it yet?

Originally posted by twhitehead
I am actually curious about this. Why do you believe my DNA is in my interest? I am not my DNA.

Oh just go to bed, or bring back the real twhithead.

Originally posted by divegeester
Are you being argumentative for the sake of it?

There is NO SUCH THING as altruism. This means that nobody does ANYTHING without some level of SELF INTERST.

Getting it yet?

So you are constantly taking the piss WITH some level of self interest? Who would have guessed?

Originally posted by divegeester
Are you being argumentative for the sake of it?

No, it just seems ridiculous to keep saying something doesn't exists when you cannot say what that something is.

There is NO SUCH THING as altruism. This means that nobody does ANYTHING without some level of SELF INTERST.

Getting it yet?
So you are saying:
Altruism: 'doing something with no level of self interest'?
So what counts as 'self interest'?

I frequently do things that I do not think will benefit me. I do them for the heck of it, or because I think it is the right thing to do, or just because I like someone. Why would you describe those as 'self interest'?

Originally posted by divegeester
Oh just go to bed, or bring back the real twhithead.

I'm not hiding anything.

Yes you are.

Originally posted by twhitehead
No, it just seems ridiculous to keep saying something doesn't exists when you cannot say what that something is.

[b]There is NO SUCH THING as altruism. This means that nobody does ANYTHING without some level of SELF INTERST.

Getting it yet?
So you are saying:
Altruism: 'doing something with no level of self interest'?
So what counts as 'self ...[text shortened]... ht thing to do, or just because I like someone. Why would you describe those as 'self interest'?[/b]

Name some of these things you "do for the heck of it".

Originally posted by twhitehead

I'm not hiding anything.

Yes you are.

No I'm not.

Originally posted by Fetchmyjunk
So you are constantly taking the piss WITH some level of self interest? Who would have guessed?

Shut up idiot.