Well, for myself, it’s because game theory says the world works better when people aren’t dicks to one another, and because empathy (intuitive and rational) allow me to put myself in other peoples’ shoes, and to appreciate that it’s good to try to help them when I can, since they’re very much like myself. I have desires and goals, and so do they, and mine aren’t particularly more important simply because they’re mine.
I have desires and goals, and so do they, and mine aren’t particularly more important simply because they’re mine.
This is the base of my whole moral philosophy, too. And you know what? There are people who actually disagree with it! Responses I’ve gotten from people in discussions have ranged from “I don’t give a shit about other people, they’re not me” to “you can’t think like that, you need to think selfishly, because otherwise everyone will trample on you.”
Well, for myself, it’s because game theory says the world works better when people aren’t dicks to one another, and because empathy (intuitive and rational) allow me to put myself in other peoples’ shoes, and to appreciate that it’s good to try to help them when I can, since they’re very much like myself. I have desires and goals, and so do they, and mine aren’t particularly more important simply because they’re mine.
This is the base of my whole moral philosophy, too. And you know what? There are people who actually disagree with it! Responses I’ve gotten from people in discussions have ranged from “I don’t give a shit about other people, they’re not me” to “you can’t think like that, you need to think selfishly, because otherwise everyone will trample on you.”