"I run across this all the time - people who think their values embody something like benevolence and goodwill but who's visible actions denote fear or greed."
I find this hilarious, because it took me quite a while to work out something similar in myself. Pretty much every piece of evidence I have available fits the model of "I'm a purely selfish individual and only do things for my own good." My motives aren't even remotely altruistic, but my external appearance is.
The way I remember it, its more a perception problem with the populace in general; you think far more long-term than the average Joe, making your selfish acts appear momentarily altruistic. Fascinating philosophical pathology, really.
Being able to fathom your own motivations and how your behavior looks to others takes a certain amount of self-awareness. Many people don't understand their own motivations, nor can they ever put themselves in someone else's shoes in order to see the affect their behavior is having.
Everyone does things for selfish reasons. Even if they are doing something that appears altruistic, they are still doing this thing because it makes them feel good to do so.
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"I run across this all the time - people who think their values embody something like benevolence and goodwill but who's visible actions denote fear or greed."
I find this hilarious, because it took me quite a while to work out something similar in myself. Pretty much every piece of evidence I have available fits the model of "I'm a purely selfish individual and only do things for my own good." My motives aren't even remotely altruistic, but my external appearance is.
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Everyone does things for selfish reasons. Even if they are doing something that appears altruistic, they are still doing this thing because it makes them feel good to do so.
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