RE: virus: Altruism, Empathy, the Superorganism, and the Priso

Corey A. Cook (COOKCORE@esuvm.emporia.edu)
Tue, 22 Apr 97 19:58:36 CT


Dan wrote:
>As for a new word that means altruism but takes into account our
>inherently selfish nature, I think we have one. You may think this
>is flip, but I don't mean it to be. The word is "self-interest."

So, you are putting forward that 'self-interest' can encompass all of
the behaviours that were previously defined as 'altruistic'. Is this
using the Transendental idea of the self as part of the OverSelf (with
any helpful behaviour simply an outgrowth of helping yourself), or the
common Western idea of the self being able to plan ahead (with a good
deed done today payed back tommorrow)? Or another one altogether?

Corey A. Cook
cookcore@esuvm.emporia.edu

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