X-Message-Number: 32118
Date: Sat, 31 Oct 2009 12:52:22 -0700
Subject: Re: self interest
From: Keith Henson <>

On Sat, Oct 31, 2009 at 2:00 AM: David Stodolsky <> wrote
> Subject: Re: CryoNet #32103
> Date: Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:25:11 +0100
> References: <>
>
> On 28 Oct 2009, at 10:00 AM, CryoNet wrote:
>
>>  In YOUNIVERSE I have demonstrated, at least to my own satisfaction,
>> that self interest (properly understood) is not only the only
>> conscious
>> motivation of everyone, but the only possible motivation, no
>> exceptions.

I almost agree with you.  The real party of (self) interest is genes,
and they can only induce behavior that is statistically likely to
further their interest.  If you want to understand odd human behavior
such as suicide bombings then this is where you need to start.  Re
conscious motivation, I think the current accepted view is that for
the most part humans are not aware of the source of their motivations.

> Self-sacrifice is observable in most organisms, at least from worms to
> humans, evolutionarily speaking. There is good evidence for multi-
> level evolution, which means there is also a group "survival
> instinct". This is characterized as hardiness, a psychological
> variable (see Maddi, et al.):

The problem with group selection logically is that the the selection
feedback.  Sticking with gene selection gives the same result with a
much stronger tie to biology.

But it is interesting how much of a bias humans have toward this view.
 Of course the reason we have the bias can be understood in
evolutionary terms.  :-)

Keith

Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=32118