Why?

[troglodyte]

Why do we do good and continue society?

 

[Q2004]

Why do we do good and continue society?

Exploring your signature, eh?

 

[savvy]

I'd say, because we have instincts to survive, and society is an integral part of human survival. We also want to maximize our personal pleasure and minimize pain and suffering, and the best way to do this is to institute rules and laws that protect us from being exploited by others.

 

[DieHappy]

But then the laws make us do good. If it were our insticts to do good to survive then we wouldn't need the laws. I think we are all totally depraved and none of us would do good if we could get away with doing "evil", for lack of a better term. A continuing society happens because of greed. I run a business in the health services industry not to serve others, but to make money. I had a child because I wanted to fill a void in my life. I want my child to be successful and grow up in a better world so I work towards a better world. Not for your sake, but for the sake of my kid. I don't care about your kid, but my efforts will benefit him anyway. I think that's why we do good, we are greedy.

 

[savvy]

That's a fun way to look at life.
Humans are quite selfish, yes, and that is a large part of what motivates us to do good, so that we will get good things in return. But we also have empathy. I can put myself in others shoes and try to feel how they feel. So most people, I think, don't want to hurt others because it makes us feel bad, because we know what we are doing to them. I think most people don't want to rape and kill and pillage. Laws are there to punish the few who have managed to harden themselves to empathy. I do care what happens to people. You really care nothing for me or the rest of your fellow humans, just because they're human?

 

[Ampoliros]

Why do we do good and continue society?

Because existing is cool?

 

[DieHappy]

You really care nothing for me or the rest of your fellow humans, just because they're human?

Well, I do, but I assumed that was the sanctified part of me.

So most people, I think, don't want to hurt others because it makes us feel bad

See, though. You avoid doing evil because of how it would make you feel. I'm coming across as more jaded than I really am, but I've been a Christian nearly all my life and have to assume what I would be like if I weren't. I fight the temptation to steal nearly every time I walk into a store. I fight the temptation to lie mainly because I know I'll eventually get caught, another selfish reason for not lying.
I go out of my way to admit to being wrong, even if I never was, to make the other person feel better. I don't point out the errors of someone (in real life, I try hard to here) because I care about them. But I also know that acting that way will lift me up in their eyes and I'm more able to get my way when I push for it. Leadership 101 is all about making people around you feel good so that they follow you.

I think most people don't want to rape and kill and pillage.

I think most people would rape and pillage if they could get away with it. Power corrupts, as we've all heard before, because people are essentially rotten and will do what they can get away with.

 

[ashley lynne]

I said "I live to serve" because I feel that if I am helping others, I am pleasing God. I live to serve the Lord.

 

[Lycaenidae]

None of the above. We have evolved cooperation.

 

[CalculusCrusader]

Cuz' it is the right thing to do.

 

[Lycaenidae]

Cuz' it is the right thing to do.

That didn't really answer anything.

 

[CalculusCrusader]

That didn't really answer anything.

Yeah, well, maybe my answer was sort of tautological. I guess I could have said "Cuz' I'm neutral good" but I am a closeted geek, so...

 

[savvy]

Well, I do, but I assumed that was the sanctified part of me.

what does that mean? that only Christians feel anything for other human beings?

See, though. You avoid doing evil because of how it would make you feel. I'm coming across as more jaded than I really am, but I've been a Christian nearly all my life and have to assume what I would be like if I weren't. I fight the temptation to steal nearly every time I walk into a store. I fight the temptation to lie mainly because I know I'll eventually get caught, another selfish reason for not lying.
I go out of my way to admit to being wrong, even if I never was, to make the other person feel better. I don't point out the errors of someone (in real life, I try hard to here) because I care about them. But I also know that acting that way will lift me up in their eyes and I'm more able to get my way when I push for it. Leadership 101 is all about making people around you feel good so that they follow you.

I avoid doing evil because I don't want to hurt people. Why is that jaded? Yes, I feel bad when I hurt people, because I know what I am doing and I know how they must be feeling. People don't like to be hurt and I don't want to cause people pain. Why is that selfish?

I think most people would rape and pillage if they could get away with it. Power corrupts, as we've all heard before, because people are essentially rotten and will do what they can get away with.

I guess I like to give people the benefit of the doubt, but I admit everyone is capable of having a dark side, although I think it only usually shows up in desperate situations.

 

[ebia]

Because I want to.

 

[gwenmead]

Why do we do good and continue society?

Because it serves us to do so.

 

[Lycaenidae]

Yeah, well, maybe my answer was sort of tautological. I guess I could have said "Cuz' I'm neutral good" but I am a closeted geek, so...

Be proud of your geekyness

 

[Moros]

Because people are afraid of going to jail. The end. If there were no punishment, there would be no society. That's why anarchy will never work. It's also why heavy handed extraneous law enforcing state Fascism always fails. Communism falls under this umbrella as well.

 

[sparklecat]

None of the above. We have evolved cooperation.

I'll go with this, as well.

 

[Spinrad]

Why do we do good and continue society?

Try NOT doing good and living in a society.

 

[cwolf20]

I'd rather do good than evil. It's definitely not to get rewards in heaven, though some believe we will. There's a verse that says something to the effect that "Everything we do falls short of the glory of God."

Yes, He does want us to do good. But if we're doing something good for the goal of getting something in heaven, then we are being selfish and greedy. Rewards come unasked for and unexpected. If they don't, they're not rewards.