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So, do we know what decides if a person develops to become more greedy, agressive and selfish while another becomes altruistic and doesn't care much about wealth and power? (discuss.tchncs.de)

submitted 1 year ago by catharso@discuss.tchncs.de to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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"my, my! humans! so aggressive."

rape, murder, nukes, war, torture, power, seemingly unlimited greed...

why don't i have that insatiable drive?

can't all be how i was raised, can it?

do you know of any studies or philosophical insights?

thx! 🙂

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[–] betwixthewires@lemmy.basedcount.com 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

While I'd say altruism is not a virtue the way it is defined in our culture, I will say that who we are is about 50% nature and 50% nurture, and inside we are very different beings for one reason or other. A born sociopath is only human the same as you in visible form, the being is nothing like you. A person who was badly abused and tattoos his face and perpetuates abuse on those around him is completely different from you both. A monk in a monestsry and an Instagram influencer are completely different beings inside, besides some basic neurology that makes them both human. If you could see the being inside every human they'd look as different as Pokémon. That's my philosophical insight.