...HUMA 1000 (L1) Assignment 3 – Draft Essay Would you agree that all human actions are ultimately motivated by self-interest? Provide reasons for your agreement/disagreement. Although few would use the word “selfish”, a word of negative connotation that implies actions done harm the interests of others for the benefit of the doer, to describe the whole human race, some believe all rational human actions are ultimately motivated by “self-interest”, a more neutral word that implies actions done are motivated by the doer’s desire, but may or may not cause harm to others. Others, however, argue that some acts such as altruism, or otherwise called “selfless actions”, serve as evidence that counters the view. This essay will argue that all human actions are ultimately motivated by self-interest. By examining human actions as either (1) acts for self, (2) altruistic acts that also benefit the doer or (3) altruistic acts that do not, it will argue that all of the above actions are ultimately initiated by self-interest. ["apparent fact" sounds like an oxymoron; "clear fact" is better] It is widely accepted that many human actions are done to benefit the doer. Every day, people work for food and shelter. They entertain themselves with occasional trips to theme parks or the cinema. In desperate circumstances, some may even commit theft or murder. All these are actions intended to be self-beneficial. It is not necessarily evil to be self-interested. Any rational person would...
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...or no self-esteem, you would think that you would have no chance in being able to help that person. Most likely you would keep on driving. As for the lack of respect for others, that to me would be way off base. If you had no respect for others then you would never even consider helping out a stranger or anyone for that matter. Helping someone else would be below you and a waste of your time. Helping a stranger and looking for nothing in return is a prime example of respect for others. 2. Is Rand criticizing ideal or reciprocal altruism? Do you think that she would differentiate between the two? Would you? I would have to say that Rand is criticizing reciprocal altruism. Ideal altruism is an expression of concern for the welfare of others without any obvious benefit. Rand talks about how you would have to evaluate the value of the time, money, or effort compared to the persons value that you intend to help which would suggest reciprocal altruism: reducing one’s own value to increase another’s value in hopes that the others person would do the same at a later date. No I do think Rand would differentiate between the two. She...
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...HISTORY AND THEORY STUDIES FIRST YEAR Terms 1 and 2 Course Lecturers: CHRISTOPHER PIERCE / BRETT STEELE (Term 1) Course Lecturer: PIER VITTORIO AURELI (Term 2) Course Tutor: MOLLIE CLAYPOOL Teaching Assistants: FABRIZIO BALLABIO SHUMI BOSE POL ESTEVE Course Structure The course runs for 3 hours per week on Tuesday mornings in Terms 1 and 2. There are four parallel seminar sessions. Each seminar session is divided into parts, discussion and submission development. Seminar 10.00-12.00 Mollie Claypool, Fabrizio Ballabio, Shumi Bose and Pol Esteve Lecture 12.00-13.00 Christopher Pierce, Brett Steele and Pier Vittorio Aureli Attendance Attendance is mandatory to both seminars and lectures. We expect students to attend all lectures and seminars. Attendance is tracked to both seminars and lectures and repeated absence has the potential to affect your final mark and the course tutor and undergraduate coordinator will be notified. Marking Marking framework adheres to a High Pass with Distinction, High Pass, Pass, Low Pass, Complete-toPass system. Poor attendance can affect this final mark. Course Materials Readings for each week are provided both online on the course website at aafirstyearhts.wordpress.com and on the course library bookshelf. Students are expected to read each assigned reading every week to be discussed in seminar. The password to access the course readings is “readings”. TERM 1: CANONICAL BUILDINGS, PROJECTS, TEXTS In this first term of...
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...The Effects of Emotions caused by Video Priming on Altruism among randomly selected Far Eastern University students Kristine Bernadette Batusbatusan John Rovic Guides Christine Joie Macauba Maria Carmela Orfanel Far Eastern University Abstract This study focuses on the effects of emotions caused by video priming on altruism. The experimenters want to know if there is a significant effect between emotions and altruism. Some related articles were gathered and one study by Over H. and Carpenter M. (2009-10) showed that priming by photographs evoking affiliations actually increase altruism for toddlers. The experimenters want to prove the same for emotions but this time, taking into account funny and annoying videos to prime necessary emotions. Subjects were randomly selected and divided into two experimental groups. A group watched a funny video individually and the other group watched an annoying video individually. The experimenter then accidentally dropped a cup filled with marbles after the subject finished watching and observed whether the subject will help or not. A Helping Attitude Scale test was given afterwards. Results were obtained and suggested that emotions caused by video priming has nosignificant effect on the level of altruism of an individual. Explanations for this was gathered and it came out that the subjects, regardless of the videos, did what they felt to do whether to help the experimenter or not. The emotions they felt after watching the video did...
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...Altruism is the will and intention to help another without regard for oneself. The will or instinct to help others is a driving force for altruistic behavior. Animals can engage in altruistic behavior; however they do not realize that they are being altruistic, therefore the behavior that is exhibited is not altruistic. For a behavior to be altruistic one needs to understand that they are benefiting others at their expense. Humans possess the will necessary to perform altruistic deeds, and can put it to great use. Humans are still animals, and may perform altruistic behaviors without realizing it. Altruism in politics is rare, but it is necessary to prevent social groups from being outcast. A proportional representation system will allow for altruism by helping minorities be represented at all times, while not requiring the current majority to relieve their representative power. Frans deWaal shows that alrutism is actually more natural than it seems, despite the apparent inconsistencies they present. Altruism is a choice to help others over one’s self. Only humans can be truly altruistic, as humans have the potential to make choices and realize their consequences almost completely, however seemingly altruistic events due occur naturally in the animal kingdom. “Taking on the midwife role another female spent no less than two and a half hours assisting the in experienced mother”(deWaal 688). The helper bat did know actually know and think about its actions and consequences. The...
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...INTERPERSONAL RELATIONS AND GROUP PROCESSES Going Green to Be Seen: Status, Reputation, and Conspicuous Conservation Vladas Griskevicius Joshua M. Tybur University of Minnesota University of New Mexico Bram Van den Bergh Rotterdam School of Management Why do people purchase proenvironmental “green” products? We argue that buying such products can be construed as altruistic, since green products often cost more and are of lower quality than their conventional counterparts, but green goods benefit the environment for everyone. Because biologists have observed that altruism might function as a “costly signal” associated with status, we examined in 3 experiments how status motives influenced desire for green products. Activating status motives led people to choose green products over more luxurious nongreen products. Supporting the notion that altruism signals one’s willingness and ability to incur costs for others’ benefit, status motives increased desire for green products when shopping in public (but not private) and when green products cost more (but not less) than nongreen products. Findings suggest that status competition can be used to promote proenvironmental behavior. Keywords: altruism, environmental conservation, costly signaling, status competition, consumer behavior ported that the number one reason for purchasing the car is because it “makes a statement about me.” What statement does the Prius make? “It shows the world that its owner...
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...PHYS3531 Physics Project Multi-valley monolayer materials By Fok Hong Ting 2010280804 Under the supervision of Dr. Wang Yao Content Acknowledgement 4 Introduction 5 Motivation 5 Project outline 5 Chapter I Tight binding model 6 Basics 6 The secular equation 8 Conclusion 9 Chapter II Graphene 11 Formulation 11 π energy band of graphene 15 σ energy bands of graphene 17 Conclusion 18 Chapter III Silicene 19 Tight Binding Hamiltonian of silicene without SOC 20 Constructing orthogonal basis 21 1st order SOC inclusion 24 Conclusion 26 Chapter IV Edge state of Group IV elements 27 Formulation 27 Graphene edge 29 Silicene edge 32 Conclusion 42 References 43 Appendix 44 List of Figures 44 Acknowledgement I hereby would like to express my appreciation and respect to my supervisor Dr. Wang Yao. Although I am not a talented student, Dr. Yao provided me timely support and insight in the field of physics. It is my fortune to take part in this final year project under his guidance. Moreover, I would like to thank Dr. GuiBin Liu and Mr. We Yue for their support and comments. Introduction Motivation One of the most intriguing phenomena in physics is...
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...without expecting return is true charity. To some extend; due to vested interest, people are more willing to go the extra mile to help their family and friends as they are likely to suffer if their friends and family is at risk. However, it has nothing to do with neither lack of self-esteem nor lack of respect for others. 2. Is Rand criticizing ideal or reciprocal altruism? Do you think that she would differentiate between the two? Would you? It seemed that Rand is criticizing reciprocal altruism. It refers to the human social idea and expectation that if a person performs an altruistic act, other people will perform altruistic acts in return. She argues that to sacrifice oneself for another person will result in a threat to one’s existence and helping other is not a moral duty or obligation. However, I disagree, as I know that, “no man is an island,” we cannot live by ourselves, and we most certainly would have encountered situations whereby we help others because we would also want help from others next time. I think that Rand would not be able to differentiate the two: ideal & reciprocal as she has a fixation on reciprocal altruism and she is unable to see that pure, ideal altruism. A mother suffering complications in her...
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...others in order to feel good about ourselves? If human altruism exists, how does our neural system deal with it? The issue of altruism is complicated by the lack of agreement about many aspects of it, including its very definition. The word altruism, which comes from the Italian altrui, was coined in 1851 by August Comte to refer to benevolence (2). Although not everyone agrees today on what precisely altruism entails, the most basic definition is seeking the welfare of others (1). This definition is often extended, however, to include the necessity of some personal sacrifice on the part of the altruist; Edward O. Wilson defined altruism as "self-destructive behavior performed for the benefit of others" (1), (3). There is also an idea of reciprocal altruism, which is self-sacrificing behavior with the expectation that the favor will be returned eventually (4). If this behavior is motivated by the desire for future reward, it does not really fit the generally accepted definitions of altruism. In nonhuman animals, altruism is mainly seen in the form of one animal sacrificing or risking its life to save another. Studies of animals by researchers such as Hamilton, who worked with bees who sacrifice themselves to allow the queen to produce offspring with their genetic makeup, have led to an evolutionary explanation of altruism (4). One account of altruism in the animal kingdom is kin selection-that an animal will...
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...Pay It Forward: Paying for a Meal Brandi K. Keller PSY/490 October 27, 2014 Edna Foster Pay It Forward: Paying for A Meal Paying it forward is an act that allows a person to do a good deed, without anything feelings or other actions in return. The phrase was first read in the 1916 book ‘Garden of Delight’ by Lily Hardy Hammond, and again seen in the movie ‘Pay it Forward’ in 2000. The movie and the phrase “pay it forward” is society’s way of describing Altruism. Altruism is the belief in or practice of disinterested and selfless concern for the well-being of others. Within the following paragraphs the comparison of the respective roles of altruism, personal and professional social responsibility, and codependency will be presented. A description of how altruism applies to psychology or psychological principles will be addressed. A description of how altruism improves the human condition, and whether or not there are limits to altruism will also be discussed. Personal and professional responsibilities related to altruism will also be addressed. The future of psychology, specifically in relation to altruism, in contemporary society will also be presented. The Comparison of the Respective Roles of Altruism, Personal and Professional Social Responsibility, and Codependency Pure altruism is giving without expecting something in return or some form of compensation (Landrum, & Davis, 2010). Not like altruism, which is a genuine and unselfish thought for people other than...
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...this. Accepting altruism does not mean that you have a low self-esteem or a lack of respect for others. I see it as quite the opposite. A person accepting altruism has the utmost respect for other humans. By acting in a altruistic or selfless way, by saving a drowning stranger for example, a person is showing his or her respect for the value of life. Just because we don’t know the person in danger doesn’t mean that they don’t have a family or loved ones that would feel pain if that person were to die (or drown as in my example). 2. Is Rand criticizing ideal or reciprocal altruism? Do you think that she would differentiate between the two? Would you? Rand seems to be criticizing reciprocal altruism. I think that Rand would differentiate between the two but would have more of an understanding or willingness to follow ideal altruism. I would differentiate between the two and I feel that a reciprocal altruism is more on my side of the board. I do not agree with it 100% but I can look back and find instances where I did something only because I would want someone to do it for me in the future. 3. Comment on the following quotation: “The proper method of judging when or whether one should help another person is by reference to one’s own rational self-interest and one’s own hierarchy of values: the time, money or effort one gives or the risk one takes should be proportionate to the value of the person in relation to one’s own happiness.” What might the social and...
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...Reciprocity is the notion or belief that people should treat others the same way the persons have treated them. It is a social rule that is instilled in many people from generations to generations. It always seems like a kind of competition where each team is ready to put their own interests aside, whereas ready to defect from the good will if selfish interests are portrayed by either. Humans are not only the species that practice cooperation; it has been observed in chimpanzees and bats. Socialization plays a critical role especially as people grow up and this determines how people cooperate since people have different experiences, values, norms and cultures. The best explanation for cooperation reciprocity is stated by the theory of reciprocal altruism. The theory illustrates that by organisms sharing their resources they increase chances of survival and the vice is probable to be passed on to generations(Baron, Byrne & Branscombe, 2007). The benefits to the...
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...Architecture and the Environment Christina Parker PSY 460 June 04, 2012 Brenda Gallagher Architecture and the Environment The environment and its inhabitants do not exist separately. They both help to mold one another. There are different environments that require a different behavior. To understand the interactions of the physical world and the behavior, individuals must consider the kinship of physical inhabitants and the environment itself (Todd & Wilson, 1993). The information in this paper will provide an understanding of the following: how the environment affects human behavior, architecture as a means of controlling behavior, the environmental psychological implications of the grand design, and the importance of architecture supporting development. Structures and Human Behavior The increasing research and interest in environmental conditions and how it relates to behavior is finally receiving acknowledgement. Structural design influences an individual’s health and well-being. A person’s mood and productivity stems from the kind of architecture one is sees. In a business sense, the goal is to create buildings that fit the need of the individual and serve the purpose of the business. Space limitations may influence an individual to work more intensely for the right to privacy. The use of windows and indoor green spaces provide a relaxing stress free zone from work (Irvine, Devine-Wright, Payne, Fuller, Painter, and Gaston, 2009). Inside...
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...Architectural Design Process Programming Phase -Programming is the activity of determining the "program", or set of needs that a building needs to fulfill. Any project should begin with a thorough examination of these needs, goals and constraints, to form as complete as possible an understanding of these issues. This includes an examination of who the users of the building will be, what use they will make of the building, what rooms/spaces they need, what mood the building should create, and any other goals of the project. It also includes an examination of constraints, such as cost, zoning and building code restrictions, and locally available materials. During the programming phase, it is normal to identify what rooms/spaces are needed. For each space, consider at least the following requirements: * Who will use the space * Use(s) of the space; what activities will take place there * How private or public should the space be * Which other spaces should be adjacent or most accessible from that space * What type of mood should the space create * How large should the space be Schematic Design Phase After establishing the program for a project, the focus in the architectural design process shifts from what the problems are to how to solve those problems. During schematic design, the focus is on the "scheme", or overall high-level design. Here, minor details should be ignored to instead focus on creating a coherent solution that encompasis the project...
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...Diwa ng Lunan: Understanding Filipino Architecture In this world, there are places that give people strong mental images, a memory or created one, which make them unique and different from other spaces. The spirit of place, or diwa ng Lunan, is a belief that each place has its own identity, character and uniqueness that differ from others. It has its own meanings that its inhabitants give value to. There are different factors that may have brought on the individuality to these places – the architectural style used, the site, the use of local materials, the climate, the cultural aspects affecting the place and the values that the people hold on to. Filipino Architecture is the reflection of the history and heritage of the country, which the author thinks is what diwa ng Lunan is about: the memories people create in a place that make it different. Having a rich past, all the occurrences in our history have contributed to the uniqueness that Filipino architecture has established to the minds of the Filipinos. The most prominent historic constructions in the archipelago are influenced by the Spanish, Chinese and Japanese culture. The Philippine architecture is like a narration of the country’s past, even before the colonization happened. The pre-colonial structures our forefathers built, the nipa huts, are made of materials found in nature. In present days, although replaced with stone houses, we always see nipa huts as something that defines the Filipino culture. They remind...
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