Master and Slave Society.

[Kirameo]

SamuelRSmith said:

Galaki said:

IMO. It's the culture that's partly at fault.

You're taught from early on. It's all about me, myself and I.

It's not necessarily a bad thing, though... the beauty of our system is that everybody benefits from those working in the self interest. The farmers who grew the food that you ate for dinner didn't do it for your benefit, they did it for theirs. It might seem cold, but it works.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ERbC7JyCfU

I'd argue that farming is most of the time a subsistence activity which revolves around a basic need, which is food. When you go up to superior occupations (in the sense that they are beyond basic needs) such as science (which broadens the spectrum of technologies available) or engineering, there is most of the time an honest desire to contribute to society. Most of the time this is very motivational.

On a personal note, I find that when I think about the possible benefits to the world's society as a whole, I get more motivated because there's transcendence in it. That's why I want to work in scientific research about solar energy, water desalinization and medical bionics. It would be more fulfilling than working purely for my own benefit.

When you help others, you transcend time and space. That's my belief.

Now, that doesn't mean that we should coerce others into doing that. It would be a contradiction...