Altruism
Altruism: "In my view, altruism is in the final analysis driven by survival motives that are emotionally based. In this sense, my approach supports Hume’s thesis. Recent neuroscientific findings confirm that we are primarily driven by our emotions rather than reason. Yet, since the human psyche and human behaviour are also the product of the environment, under the right circumstances and with deliberate effort, we are capable of acting morally, beyond the margins of what our genetic coding has primed us for." ("EMOTIONAL AMORAL EGOISM": A Neurophilosophical Theory of Human Nature and its Universal Security Implications by Nayef R.F. Al-Rodhan, page 15)
"We may have some emotions from which moral codes of right can be developed through conscious reflection, as de Waal suggests, but this emotionality does not imply that morality is innate. It simply means that we possess some moral sensitivities, the intensity of which reduces over space. In this sense, there is no such thing as true altruism. What we may interpret as altruism is more likely to be pseudoaltruism – at some level, all apparently altruistic acts are related to general self-interest defined in broad terms. This does not mean that they do not serve the individual, society or the global system." ("EMOTIONAL AMORAL EGOISM": A Neurophilosophical Theory of Human Nature and its Universal Security Implications by Nayef R.F. Al-Rodhan, page 140)
"What may appear as moral instincts, such as putting oneself in danger to save someone else’s life, must have served general self-interest in survival terms. An individual is more likely to risk his or her life to save a sibling or child in immediate danger, for instance, than someone with whom he or she has no immediate relationship. This is not to say that true altruism does not exist, simply that it is extremely rare. There is nothing in us that makes us either moral or immoral by definition. How we act will depend on the survival value of humankind’s moral compass. We have the capacity to be both moral and immoral, depending on the circumstances. This puts a greater responsibility on society rather than simply expecting the individual to act morally." ("EMOTIONAL AMORAL EGOISM": A Neurophilosophical Theory of Human Nature and its Universal Security Implications by Nayef R.F. Al-Rodhan, page 202)
Altruism Discussion
Altruism: "clearly, some people are capable of truly altruistic acts rather than simply pseudo altruism, and some are able to live moral lives despite their own hardship and deprivation – but these individuals represent a minority of the world’s population." (SUSTAINABLE HISTORY AND THE DIGNITY OF MAN: A Philosophy of History and Civilisational Triumph by Nayef R.F. Al-Rodhan, page 80)
Key Paragraphs
Geostrategy, Geopolitics, Human Nature, International Relations, Conflict Theory, International Security, Global Security, National Security, Altruism, Globalization, Global Justice, Political Justice, Political Theory, Moral Philosophy, Social Theory, Neurophilosophy, Philosophy of History, Diplomacy, Existentialism, History of Ideas, Statecraft, Theory of Knowledge, Political Philosophy, Human Civilization, Dignity, Ethics, Moral Philosophy, Innate Knowledge, Philosophical Approach, Multilateralism, Neorealism, Transcultural, National Security