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Termyn8or -> RE: Selfish altruism? (8/5/2007 7:33:58 AM)
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So this seems to support the Fruedian theory.
If then Freud was right, then we have the answer to NG's question, why not fuck everybody ? Freud described three facets of the human mind, id, ego and superego.
The id is what you want, or more aptly, your conception of what you want.
The ego is how to get it.
The superego is what not to do, societal or legal restraints and so forth, objectionable actions, somethiung like that.
So you don't grab her by the hair, drag her off and rape her, the superego tells you not to do that because of the consequenses. This has nothing to do with morality.
Instead you woo her and try to win her affections, that is the ego in action. This, by the way is NOT the colloquial definition of ego, as in egotistical, it is meant differently.
But from the id comes the desire.
But what is that deep desire exactly ? Is it based on a desire to reproduce and propogate the species, or is it simply a selfish desire for a pleasurable sexual experience involving more than five fingers ?
I am somewhat well read on psychology, but I never became infatuated with Freud or Jung or anybody so I don't know for sure if Freud was contending that the two desires are one and the same, or are somehow crosswrired in the human mind. I did pickup a few inferences to that, and I think he believed it. And that it is a natural thing, to propogate the species. Make it worth our while. Seems to have worked, just the thing is, did it work the way he said, or is there another theory in operation here ?
Anyway, I must admit that I was fooled by the subject line. Words could have been chosen better I think, but I have no constructive criticism at this time so let it be. I thought it would be about giving money to charities for gains, that people are buying. Allegiance to say the least, for public image and so forth.
Why did Andrew Carnegie give out all that money ? Got his name etched in stone of course, but why the hell bother really. I guess some people consider things like that a form of immortality.
I do believe though, unfortunately, that much altruism today is fake, giving and granting is done mostly for selfish reasons. The truly altruistic don't need publicity. They do exist, but give anonymously or quietly at least. They give because they care about their fellow human beings. Unfortunately that is rare.
For example, why do local utilities advertise on the evening news ? Do you think they just like to propogate good information to the community ? They are buying influence. And big business does it all the time.
By purchasing alot of air time, even on local shows, they buy influence, as well as hedge out the little Man. Let's put it this way, if your local news is sponsored by your local electric company, and said electric company really screws up and kills ten people or something, how do you think they are going to treat that story. Now get this, if the families of the ten people who died wanted to buy some airtime to put up a commercial to bitch about said electric company, it is most likely the they would not be able to afford it.
I don't know if you consider my post a hijack, but before you do consider this : Perhaps this money/power addiction has it's roots in sexuality, as Freud believed I think. If he was right, then a few more things fit together. They would believe that with more money and power they could get a better selection of mates, nicer looking or whatever traits they fancy. Or even more of it, quantity as well as quality.
My longwindedness has gotten me to the point now I am not sure, but the subjects of this study were young no ? I'll have to go look at it again, but for now I say that age has something to do with it.
I think as people age their morality changes, and this might have something to do with it. On average, sexual drive may decrease with advancing age, but one of two things happen. If you are in your late 50s having sex three times a day it doesn't matter. If you are getting it you are no longer looking for it, seeking it, HUNTING it ! You GOT it. Or you could be in your late 50s and be getting less. If you are happy with that fine, but I've known older guys who were still on the prowl. Let's just say that some of them did not impress me with their maturity.
To the OP, if you're down here you read it, I really don't think it was a hijack. And now I have that constructive criticism I couldn't think of earlier : you should've called the thread "Sexual altruism". Other than that, nice topic, nice thread, thanks.
T
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