Shageletic posted:
People are selfish, and will act selfishly to gain what they can.
Although this certainly trades as common sense, there is nothing about this that matches the real world.
Psychological data for the last decade or so has confirmed beyond a shadow of a doubt that 1) humans are the most selflessly altruistic of the primates, and are not only willing but eager to share with others, and 2) that people will do rewarding, purposeful work for its own sake, regardless of material compensation, and in fact monetary compensation will make us less likely to do that work.
Read this: http://www.nature.com/nature/journa…ature10278.html
Watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6XAPnuFjJc
Humans are not petty, selfish creatures. If we were, then maybe we need a dictator to tell us what to do. But we aren’t, and we can organize ourselves to solve our problems, and we’ll do it together just fine thank you very much. You can try to defend a Hobbesian view if you want, but don’t pretend that the data supports it.
I really need to give my hands a break. I’ll be back tomorrow.
(Source: forums.somethingawful.com)
