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Post by Tamrin on Mar 12, 2013 14:49:14 GMT 10
The argument has long been made that we humans are by nature compassionate and empathic despite the occasional streak of meanness, but torrents of bad news throughout history have contradicted that claim, and little sound science has backed it. But try this thought experiment. Imagine the number of opportunities people around the world today might have to commit an antisocial act, from rape or murder to simple rudeness and dishonesty. Make that number the bottom of a fraction. Now for the top value you put the number of such antisocial acts that will actually occur today Worth pondering. Daniel Goleman goes on to say.
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Post by Tamrin on Mar 12, 2013 15:22:21 GMT 10
Sincere altruism between people is difficult to guage: There is always the possibility of some transactional incentive (whether real or imagined).
In Turkey last year, Brenda and I witnessed a strong sense of community. Although there were great disparities of wealth there was what seemed to be genuine and active concern for one's fellows doing it tough. That there was little if any notion of quid pro quo in this compassion was evident from their inclusion of animals.
We were struck by the number of cats and dogs roaming the streets. At first we thought they were strays, probably underfed and diseased. On closer attention it was obvious that they were all very healthy and content. We saw no fighting among them for food, dominance or whatever. Even cats and dogs tolerated each other.
On asking about this phenomenon, we were told that while there were private pets, communities as a whole took care of local, unattached animals, even their veterinary needs. We witnessed people, including restaurant owners, putting out food; everywhere there were bowls of water and, while out walking one night, we saw an old dog asleep in a quiet street, where someone had put out an old coat for its bed.
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Post by Tamrin on Mar 12, 2013 15:25:39 GMT 10
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Post by Tamrin on Jan 29, 2014 7:21:03 GMT 10
Kindness and HealthWe must assume that one of our basic purposes on planet Earth is to be kind. Why else would our body reward us every time we help someone?
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Post by lena01 on Aug 22, 2017 21:53:26 GMT 10
Altruism or selflessness is the principle or practice of concern for the welfare of others. It is a traditional virtue in many cultures and a core aspect of various religious traditions and secular worldviews, though the concept of "others" toward whom concern should be directed can vary among cultures and religions. Altruism or selflessness is the opposite of selfishness. The word was coined by the French philosopher Auguste Comte in French, as altruisme, for an antonym of egoism. He derived it from the Italian altrui, which in turn was derived from Latin alteri, meaning "other people" or "somebody else".
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