X-Message-Number: 30779
From: "Chris Manning" <>
References: <>
Subject: Re: self-interest
Date: Wed, 28 May 2008 22:09:22 +1000

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "CryoNet" <>
To: <>
Sent: Tuesday, May 27, 2008 7:00 PM
Subject: CryoNet #30769 - #30774


> Message #30771
> From: 
> Date: Mon, 26 May 2008 11:08:27 EDT
> Subject: self interest

> It is logically and physically impossible to
> be motivated by anything other than self interest.

I used to have arguments with a friend of mine who maintained this same 
thing. The example he used (or we used) was of a 'Meals on Wheels' delivery 
person (do you have these in the US?) who is supposedly doing it out of 
altruism but really (according to my friend) was doing it to make himself 
feel good. I used to tell my friend that if he was a frail, elderly person 
who lived alone and was no longer able to care for himself, and the 'Meals 
on Wheels' man came around with his evening meal, he wouldn't likely say 
"You're just doing this to make yourself feel good. Take the meal away!"

I would say that whether Bob's position is correct depends on how you define 
'self-interest' and that on its broadest interpretation, it is impossible 
not to do something out of self-interest - because to say that you are doing 
it out of self-interest (on this broadest possible interpretation) is a 
tautology. It is impossible *not* to find something about an action which 
*could* be seen as being in the person's self-interest.

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