Richard Dawkins describes selfishness as “Unconscious purposive behavior”
(Dawkins, 1976). This book's main idea is that genes are created selfishly. He explains that selfish behavior increases survival of genes in a person at the expense of other genes. The book also explains that these actions are thoughtless, they are unconscious like the human's actions of blinking or breathing. This is because there is no thought process behind a gene they just act (Dawkins, 1976). Everyone has these genes in their body which then transfers over to actual human behavior. Dawkins explains that selfish behavior is expected in human nature because of the genetics behind a human. Basically stating that selfishness is a survival instinct so we would be willing
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He says that the genes act selfishly and only act in ways that benefit them the most. However in a lot of cases the most beneficial option for a single gene is working in a group but the gene still does so for its own good not the groups (Dawkins, 1976). He then explains that genes can not think therefore they can not see the future and do not guide themselves with thought processes. They are instead selected for a specific requirement because of the conditions of the environment they are in (Dawkins, …show more content…
282). Once behaviors dominate a population it doesn’t typically change all too much which explains persistent behaviors in certain populations. These behaviors are what determine how an organism responds to its environment to make decisions appropriately based on the scenario. So these genes are basically creating rules that directly corresponds with human reaction and decision making abilities. Dawkins explains that he “is not advocating a morality based on evolution” (Dawkins, p. 2) but rather saying that this is what might have happened to evolution (Dawkins, 1976). He says we should expect the selfish behavior of humans but still make our best attempt to not be selfish and teach generosity. He describes genes as “Policy makers” and the brain as the “Executives” (Dawkins, p. 60). So we can still make decisions outside of the rules that genes make based on our own decision and morally right and wrong
Wong, R.Y., and Hofmann H.A. 2010. Behavioral Genomics: An Organismic Perspective. Encyclopedia of Life Sciences, in press.
Selfishness is a common trait in the world, it’s not a hidden factor, but very well-known as being one’s self-interest. The story “Hunters in the Snow” by Tobias Wolff, discusses how each character in the story deals with different kinds of selfish ways. One character, Tub, deals with eating problems and lies about it. Frank deals with a secret life that he is hiding from his wife. Kenny is always comparing something to his liking and if he does not like it then he will complain. Self-absorption is when someone is focused on their self and only themselves. It is known to be a regular’s human’s condition, it’s something majority of human beings have. Selfishness may also kick in during survival incidents. For example, a boy and his friends
In chapter one of “The Selfish Gene,” Dawkins speaks about how Darwin was the first person to develop a good theory to answer the question of “why are people?” he goes on to explain how Darwin explained that evolution occurs when a person has the qualities that allow humans to survive at the expense of other individuals. In addition, he writes of how Darwin explains how to pass on genes, generation after generation, through offspring. Everyone knows of Darwin’s theory of evolution, but Dawkins tries to introduce a particular interpretation of the evolutionary process. He believes that evolution should not be studied at the level of singular individuals or groups, but instead at the level of genes. He also believed that there are two main characteristics of genes manifested during the struggle for survi...
Upon making an honest and accurate assessment of his character, it seems evident that man is not such a creature divinely set apart from the trappings of selfishness and immorality. Rather than put man at either extreme, it seems more accurate to describe man as a creature whose tendency is to look out for himself first, as a means of survival. It is true that on many levels humans act in a cooperative way to benefit all -- but does that warrant a claim that man is genetically altruistic? Perhaps the reasoning behind his actions would lead to another view? As Ridley examines man's dependency upon others in his species, it becomes apparent that man is not necessarily a savage beast out to do everyone in, but rather a lone creature trying to ensure his survival.
Whether human nature is fundamentally selfish or altruistic is a question that challenge lots of researchers back in the time, and even today. Some people, such as Thomas Hobbes, claimed that man 's nature is basically evil and selfish. However, Joseph Butler, a philosopher, disagreed with this idea. For him, goodness consists in having what he calls the ‘principle of reflection’ govern and control our passions. People always want to know the true, but there is no answer for this question, so we have to find it out base on our knowledge and beliefs. It is important to know what is our true identity when we were born. In my mind, no one is perfect, everyone has the dark-side in themselves. People cannot deny that there is no mistake have
If one wishes to be a psychological egoist, then one needs to explain why people do certain actions that appear to be genuine acts of altruism.
• Once more, the ordinary science’ proves itself as the master of classification, inventing and defining the various categories of Egoism. Per example, psychological egoism, which defines doctrine that an individual is always motivated by self-interest, then rational egoism which unquestionably advocates acting in self-interest. Ethical egoism as diametrically opposite of ethical altruism which obliges a moral agent to assist the other first, even if sacrifices own interest. Also, ethical egoism differs from both rational and psychological egoism in ‘defending’ doctrine which considers all actions with contributive beneficial effects for an acting individual
Survival is selfish in many ways in the book, “Night” by Elie Wiesel. It’s selfish by the Jews forgetting their friends and family members around them, and only thinking about themselves. In the book
If a person had to choose between their life and someone else’s, they’d choose to be the ones to live. Selfishness is a terrible thing that can cause families to fight, it can cause wars, or the death of someone to spare one’s own life. Night by Elie Wiesel, shows many examples of selfishness. Sons leave their fathers to save their own lives, reluctantly feed their dying father and even kill just for a piece of bread. Humans are inherently selfish, it’s a personality trait that doesn’t care about relatives or lovers or anyone else.
My second evidence to support this claim is when Elie wiesel said “I had but one thought not to have my number taken down and not to show my left arm” (Collections (310). In this quote he was only thinking about himself in order to survive, so in order to survive he needed to be a little selfish and think about what he needs to do to survive the selection. My last claim to support how survival is selfish when Elie wiesel was running he was using all his strength and power and didn't care about how anybody else was doing in order to survive. He said “I felt as though I had been running for years” (Collections(310). Elie wiesel is using all his strength and power in order for him to survive his not doing it for anybody else.
Selfishness is a disease of the soul that every person experiences several times throughout their life. To say that it has never been experienced would be hypocrisy. To say that it is a “good thing”, would be erroneous. Although as humans we like to lie to ourselves, it is no question that selfishness can make any person act like a fool. It consumes us and makes us into someone we are not. Whether it leads to getting people killed, falling in love, or buying alcohol, selfishness always leads to destruction.
The metaphor behind Dawkins' theory can best be described by his opening statement: "we are survival machines-robot vehicles blindly programmed to preserve the selfish molecules known as genes" (Barlow 193). Dawkins links the natural behavior of unconscious bunches of nucleic acid (genes) to human behavior and personality by calling them "selfish." His use of this term conjures up the image of a separate individual, capable of making decisions to help its own good and disregarding our needs. By calling human beings "survival machines" and "robots," Dawkins suggests some serious moral implications regarding our existence. If we were just robots, it would seem that we would be no longer responsible for our actions, as people could attribute all evil to the gene programmers who created these robots. Also, if our primary purpose were to serve as a "survival machine" for something else, life would seem insignificant. John Maynard Smith writes that Dawkins' book is just about evolution, and "not about morals . . . or about the human sciences" (195). However, the attempt to disengage the selfish gene theory from its moral implications is seriously undermined by Dawkins' metaphors.
behavior for the benefit of other." (Recent Work on Human Altruism and Evolution) Another popularized theory by Richard Dawkins states that an individual who behaves more altruistic towards others who share its genes will tend to reproduce those genes. But since we always want something in exchange for something we did, can this truly exist, or is it just an illusion? On Jan.
Gintis, Herbert, Samuel Bowles, Robert Boyd, and Ermst Fehr. “Explaining Altruistic Behavior in Humans.” Evolution and Human Behavior 24 (2003): 153-172. Web. 5 Feb. 2012
Psychological egoism, a descriptive claim about human nature, states that humans by nature are motivated only by self-interest. To act in one's self-interest is to act mainly for one's own good and loving what is one's own (i.e. ego, body, family, house, belongings in general). It means to give one's own interests higher priority then others'. "It (psychological egoism) claims that we cannot do other than act from self-interest motivation, so that altruism-the theory that we can and should sometimes act in favor of others' interests-is simply invalid because it's impossible" (Pojman 85). According to psychological egoists, any act no matter how altruistic it might seem, is actually motivated by some selfish desire of the agent (i.e., desire for reward, avoidance of guilt, personal happiness).