Is everything we do for selfish reasons?

britboy4321 · 16 Mar 2011 at 13:28

Someone at work says everything anyone ever does is purely selfish.

Me 'I hung out the washing for my missus'
Him 'So she didn't rollock' you - selfish'

'I cooked her dinner'
'Only coz you want her to like you more - selfish'

'I give money to charity'
'So you can tell people like me you do, to big yourself up - selfish'

'I anonymously give money to charity'
'So you can think you're oh-so-great - not just to help the starving donkeys of Greece. Selfish'

'My brother had 'the sword of cackness' on WOW, I gave him my 'sword of whoppingness' for free'
'So you could have a better raid, so YOU could have more fun .. selfish'

AAARRRGGHH! Do you think everything everyone does is basically for purely selfish reasons? It kind of makes me miserable -- but everything I say to my mate .. he really does believe I do just to somehow make myself feel better and always manages to twist it back to that horrible word 'selfish' ... :/

What thinks you?

LeJosh · 16 Mar 2011 at 13:31

I know that my actions are for my reasons and if he thinks differently, that's his problem. No reason for me to explain myself in acts of kindness.

And no I don't think everyone does something nice to gain something. It is however a natural reaction to feel good about yourself if you do something good for someone but that's not selfish.

'Wes · 16 Mar 2011 at 13:33

So me sitting on the loo, having a **** is selfish?

pooey · 16 Mar 2011 at 13:34

Altruism doesn't exist.

gjrc · 16 Mar 2011 at 13:35

i went and helped my bro move stuff in his house despite having a rank hangover.

i did that for no other reason than he is my twin brother and he asked for help.

Spektor · 16 Mar 2011 at 13:36

Yes, but it isn't a bad thing.

gropingmantis · 16 Mar 2011 at 13:36

pooey said:
Altruism doesn't exist.

This.

I've had many many people tell me this. Especially Psychology students who seem to love saying it. But I have to agree it is true.

Kerplunk · 16 Mar 2011 at 13:36

"Everything I dooooo, I do it for youuuuu"

Ewaf · 16 Mar 2011 at 13:36

You're work friend is an utter tool.

krooton · 16 Mar 2011 at 13:37

Anything you do could be worded so that it sounds like it was for selfish reasons, but even if that were the case it would unconsciously selfish, and therefore not a true reflection of your conscious self.

Pudney · 16 Mar 2011 at 13:38

gropingmantis said:
This.

I've had many many people tell me this. Especially Psychology students who seem to love saying it. But I have to agree it is true.

What's the reasoning behind people giving their lives to save others?

gropingmantis · 16 Mar 2011 at 13:44

Just because you do not consciously perform an action for selfish reasons does not mean that your actions are not, in part, affected by a selfish sub-concious thought process.

boxman2000 · 16 Mar 2011 at 13:45

Sorry but they're talking rubbish. Look at the rescue teams out in Japan - no way is that selfish.

Pudney · 16 Mar 2011 at 13:47

Possibly, which is why I don't suggest anything to do with children due to the innate desire to procreate. However, taking into account survival instinct is one of our most strongest subconscious controllers giving your life (and going against base nature) to save a stranger would be quite hard to argue there is a selfish motivation, subconscious or not.

I have no idea in reality but think that would be one of the first examples that would need to be disproved.

semi-pro waster · 16 Mar 2011 at 13:47

Pudney@work said:
What's the reasoning behind people giving their lives to save others?

It's hard to provide a generalisation but it could be that 1) they've passed on their genes already therefore have no need to worry about doing so in the future, 2) they're protecting their offspring i.e. protecting their genes, 3) they believe the person they're saving will be a better evolutionary bet, 4) they didn't realise until too late that they were going to forfeit their life...

There's a variety of possible reasons which may still allow for the statement of "there's no such thing as altruism" to be correct. However it's a rather negative way to look at the World and I don't think it provides much in the way of benefits to always be looking for ulterior motives, even if they're subconscious. Altruism may not exist but if the net result is that good gets done regardless then does it really matter?

Jokester · 16 Mar 2011 at 13:48

boxman2000 said:
Sorry but they're talking rubbish. Look at the rescue teams out in Japan - no way is that selfish.

Those guys get a massive rush when they pull people alive from the rubble.

Theophany · 16 Mar 2011 at 13:49

The entire body of economics is built upon the principle that we are self-interested beings. Why would we do things that give us no benefit whatsoever? Purely philosophical and many disagree with it.

Though I must say that I do agree with the idea. Everybody acts selfishly, though not necessarily on a conscious level. I do not believe that there is such a thing as altruism.

Vonhelmet · 16 Mar 2011 at 13:49

No.

But I'm guessing that everyone will say yes.

AGD · 16 Mar 2011 at 13:51

I don't think altruism exists. Everyone acts like it does but they get something out of every action - even if it's just to make them not feel guilty. It's one of those things where it's best to think as if it does exist even if it doesn't - a bit like free choice.

Dj_Jestar · 16 Mar 2011 at 13:51

There was a "Friends" episode on this. Not that that should have any meaning on the convo, just a bit of useless trivia

But even seemingly selfless tasks still give that sense of satisfaction. Perfect example I have, was a girl that was stranded at a motorway services with no money, keys, phone nor (oddly) shoes. She practically begged for a lift home, so I obliged and took her home, and even waited with her until someone else arrived to open the door (no keys, locked out). The whole ordeal took 2 hours, when I should have been back at home within 10mins, but I felt good that I had "done good".

Oh, and no, there was no raping or pasty smashing.