On the duty to improve the world.

[Borodog]

Most people who feel they have a "duty" to "improve the world" only succeed in ****ing it up even worse.

[Darryl_P]

No, you're only supposed to help lazy people who don't take care of themselves, especially the big fat ones who buy twinkies with food stamps. I don't just mean help them buy more twinkies. You also gotta pay for their bypass operation when the twinkies clog their arteries.

[hmkpoker]

No, but some of us get a good feeling from charitable actions.

[purnell]

Yeah, I see it that way. In the case of the drowning man type scenario, it seems like people have an unconscious drive to help. Instinct?

[chezlaw]

[ QUOTE ]
Yeah, I see it that way. In the case of the drowning man type scenario, it seems like people have an unconscious drive to help. Instinct?

[/ QUOTE ]
We're evolved to benefit a common gene pool.

chez

[hmkpoker]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Yeah, I see it that way. In the case of the drowning man type scenario, it seems like people have an unconscious drive to help. Instinct?

[/ QUOTE ]
We're evolved to benefit a common gene pool.

chez

[/ QUOTE ]

*nod* There's a very good game theory explanation for altruism, as it is frequently +EV for the species.

[Shakezula]

You're obliged, as an individual, to exist; biologically, to survive. (Maybe the rest is some strange mental-jism...)

If in your existence, in your being of yourself, you end up helping others or the world-at-large, so be it. You do it because you want to, not because you HAVE-TO.