{"id":1440,"date":"2018-06-17T18:42:13","date_gmt":"2018-06-17T18:42:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/?p=1440"},"modified":"2018-06-17T18:54:56","modified_gmt":"2018-06-17T18:54:56","slug":"morality-is-not-the-suppression-of-self-interest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/morality\/morality-is-not-the-suppression-of-self-interest","title":{"rendered":"Morality is NOT the Suppression of Self-Interest"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3>A group can not endure for long if its members all just do their own thing. So, what\u2019s the problem?<\/h3>\n<blockquote><p><strong>The reasoning in favor of suppression is simple.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>This is about what is called the \u2018free rider\u2019 problem. In the course of ages, our ancestors and even pre-ancestors (\u2018hominids\u2019 and before) learned the advantages of living in group. Thus, Darwinistically, people may have become groupish as well as selfish \u2018to the gene\u2019.<\/p>\n<p>In order to maintain a group, then as well as now, the individuals forming that group cannot be allowed to run amok each in search of only his self-interest (\u2018free riding\u2019) and contrary to \u00a0group-interest. Soon, the group would be so deteriorated that it would dissolve or become victim to other, more cooperative groups.<\/p>\n<p>Thus, self-interest needs to be suppressed. In due time, norms, values, institutions etc. have been put in place to align the wrong-doer or <em>potential<\/em> wrong-doer through mainly guilt, shame and punishment.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>In which man-view does this suppression-view fit?<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Mainly a straightforward, rather mechanical view in which:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>the human \u2018self\u2019 is equated to \u2018ego\u2019.<\/li>\n<li>Thus, self-interest = ego-interest.<\/li>\n<li>A group = a set of egos.<\/li>\n<li>Thus, we have a zero-sum of group-interest + ego-interests of all members.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Plus: an intra-individual happening<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>in which the \u2018deeper self\u2019 (nonconscious, better: \u2018nonconceptual\u2019 part of mental processing) may be looked upon with suspicion. In this vein, not internally being under conscious control, a covert aim may be to put it under control from outside.\u00a0[see: <a href=\"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog?p=927\">\u2018Control\u2019 Is Not the Answer<\/a>\u2019]<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Group-interest\u2019 than rather looks like some post-rationalized way to hide the ulterior \u2013 widespread \u2013 motive of internal \u2018control\u2019.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Self-interest needs to be managed, not therefore suppressed.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>In a group, group-interest should of course be preserved as just described. However, the jump to \u2018suppression\u2019 is way too coarse. Those who advocate it seem to mainly have an unrealistically simple view upon human being.<\/p>\n<p>There are so many more ways to manage interests in respect of human being beside downright suppression. The latter may still have a place at the end of the line. However, it\u2019s a long line. AURELIS may be seen as a substantial part of this line.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>When looking at \u2018self\u2019 as total person<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>then if \u2018self\u2019 is suppressed, what is there left to care for? Is it perhaps the cooperative society as a place for people to \u2018grow and thrive\u2019\u2026 and be suppressed?<\/p>\n<p>There is something not quite right in this state.<\/p>\n<p>One can say: only the free-riding part should be suppressed. Sounds reasonable in an ego-world. Less so otherwise. As a starters, suppression <em>creates<\/em> ego. In an ego-world, this may feel like a good thing to do.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Eventually, one should see this as a choice at least,<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>not as a necessity. One way to put this choice, is through asking about the direct goal. Is it:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>either the \u2018better society\u2019 (cooperative\u2026) towards which the individual should be incentivized through guilt and shame?<\/li>\n<li>or the \u2018better individual\u2019 \u2013 which then makes the better society \u2013 through <em>support<\/em> of any appropriate sort&#8230; and stronger incentive only when needed?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Both choices have been made in past and present. I guess humanity is still on its way to sort things out. As you might suspect, I\u2019m personally in favor of the second choice.<\/p>\n<p>However, surely, it still presupposes an immense lot of work!<\/p>\n<div data-object_id=\"1440\" class=\"cbxwpbkmarkwrap cbxwpbkmarkwrap_no_cat cbxwpbkmarkwrap-post \"><a  data-redirect-url=\"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1440\"  data-display-label=\"0\" data-show-count=\"0\" data-bookmark-label=\" \"  data-bookmarked-label=\" \"  data-loggedin=\"0\" data-type=\"post\" data-object_id=\"1440\" class=\"cbxwpbkmarktrig  cbxwpbkmarktrig-button-addto\" title=\"Bookmark This\" href=\"#\"><span class=\"cbxwpbkmarktrig-label\"  style=\"display:none;\" > <\/span><\/a> <div  data-type=\"post\" data-object_id=\"1440\" class=\"cbxwpbkmarkguestwrap\" id=\"cbxwpbkmarkguestwrap-1440\"><div class=\"cbxwpbkmarkguest-message\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"cbxwpbkmarkguesttrig_close\"><\/a><h3 class=\"cbxwpbookmark-title cbxwpbookmark-title-login\">Please login to bookmark<\/h3>\n\t\t<form name=\"loginform\" id=\"loginform\" action=\"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-login.php\" method=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<p class=\"login-username\">\n\t\t\t\t<label for=\"user_login\">Username or Email Address<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"log\" id=\"user_login\" class=\"input\" value=\"\" size=\"20\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p class=\"login-password\">\n\t\t\t\t<label for=\"user_pass\">Password<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t<input type=\"password\" name=\"pwd\" id=\"user_pass\" class=\"input\" value=\"\" size=\"20\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<p class=\"login-remember\"><label><input name=\"rememberme\" type=\"checkbox\" id=\"rememberme\" value=\"forever\" \/> Remember Me<\/label><\/p>\n\t\t\t<p class=\"login-submit\">\n\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" name=\"wp-submit\" id=\"wp-submit\" class=\"button button-primary\" value=\"Log In\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"redirect_to\" value=\"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1440\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/form><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A group can not endure for long if its members all just do their own thing. So, what\u2019s the problem? The reasoning in favor of suppression is simple. This is about what is called the \u2018free rider\u2019 problem. In the course of ages, our ancestors and even pre-ancestors (\u2018hominids\u2019 and before) learned the advantages of <a class=\"moretag\" href=\"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/morality\/morality-is-not-the-suppression-of-self-interest\">Read the full article&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n<div data-object_id=\"1440\" class=\"cbxwpbkmarkwrap cbxwpbkmarkwrap_no_cat cbxwpbkmarkwrap-post \"><a  data-redirect-url=\"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1440\"  data-display-label=\"0\" data-show-count=\"0\" data-bookmark-label=\" \"  data-bookmarked-label=\" \"  data-loggedin=\"0\" data-type=\"post\" data-object_id=\"1440\" class=\"cbxwpbkmarktrig  cbxwpbkmarktrig-button-addto\" title=\"Bookmark This\" href=\"#\"><span class=\"cbxwpbkmarktrig-label\"  style=\"display:none;\" > <\/span><\/a> <div  data-type=\"post\" data-object_id=\"1440\" class=\"cbxwpbkmarkguestwrap\" id=\"cbxwpbkmarkguestwrap-1440\"><div class=\"cbxwpbkmarkguest-message\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"cbxwpbkmarkguesttrig_close\"><\/a><h3 class=\"cbxwpbookmark-title cbxwpbookmark-title-login\">Please login to bookmark<\/h3>\n\t\t<form name=\"loginform\" id=\"loginform\" action=\"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-login.php\" method=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<p class=\"login-username\">\n\t\t\t\t<label for=\"user_login\">Username or Email Address<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"log\" id=\"user_login\" class=\"input\" value=\"\" size=\"20\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p class=\"login-password\">\n\t\t\t\t<label for=\"user_pass\">Password<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t<input type=\"password\" name=\"pwd\" id=\"user_pass\" class=\"input\" value=\"\" size=\"20\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<p class=\"login-remember\"><label><input name=\"rememberme\" type=\"checkbox\" id=\"rememberme\" value=\"forever\" \/> Remember Me<\/label><\/p>\n\t\t\t<p class=\"login-submit\">\n\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" name=\"wp-submit\" id=\"wp-submit\" class=\"button button-primary\" value=\"Log In\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"redirect_to\" value=\"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1440\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/form><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1437,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":"","jetpack_publicize_message":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/185.jpg?fit=960%2C568&ssl=1","jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9Fdiq-ne","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1440"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1440"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1440\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1448,"href":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1440\/revisions\/1448"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1437"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1440"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1440"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1440"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}