This is for the Brown Supplement. "What question could we ask to gain the most insight into you? What is your answer?" My answer is right at the 2000 character limit. Please be harsh!
Are people inherently altruistic and sincerely wish to help others, or are all of our actions explained by selfish, ulterior motives?
My answer to this question stems from the way I was brought up. My parents grew up in China during the Cultural Revolution, a period of political and social upheaval in China. Though Mao Zedong and his Communist Party made many strides for China, their advancements came at the expense of many people. Because of the shoddy politics they faced growing up, my parents were always skeptical of politicians and people in general. From a young age, they taught me to be wary of other's intentions, to always watch out for myself, to be careful in whom I give my trust, and to be down-to-earth and practical. As a result, I have grown into a careful and generally skeptical person.
So, to answer my question, I believe that people are guided by selfish motives, and that most good acts are not done for purely altruistic reasons. Whether it be for material gain or for moral gain, all actions can be traced to an ulterior motive. Some of my friends call me a pessimist and an untrustworthy skeptic, but I disagree; I consider myself a realist. I think that it is in human nature to be inherently selfish and self-preserving; these are traits we need in order to survive and adapt. Everything we do has implications of personal gain; we hold the door for others to seem polite, we donate money to buff our sense of moral superiority. These beliefs may seem sardonic, but they aren't without foundation; the very basis of capitalism is that if people act out of self-interest, competition will ensue and the individual's selfishness will all be for the common good. My realism doesn't diminish my capacity for being a kind person; I just have a sense of self-awareness for my actions. I am self-aware and skeptical, and I am not ashamed to have these characteristics. They have allowed me to mature into an independent person who is capable of dealing with hardship.
Are people inherently altruistic and sincerely wish to help others, or are all of our actions explained by selfish, ulterior motives?
My answer to this question stems from the way I was brought up. My parents grew up in China during the Cultural Revolution, a period of political and social upheaval in China. Though Mao Zedong and his Communist Party made many strides for China, their advancements came at the expense of many people. Because of the shoddy politics they faced growing up, my parents were always skeptical of politicians and people in general. From a young age, they taught me to be wary of other's intentions, to always watch out for myself, to be careful in whom I give my trust, and to be down-to-earth and practical. As a result, I have grown into a careful and generally skeptical person.
So, to answer my question, I believe that people are guided by selfish motives, and that most good acts are not done for purely altruistic reasons. Whether it be for material gain or for moral gain, all actions can be traced to an ulterior motive. Some of my friends call me a pessimist and an untrustworthy skeptic, but I disagree; I consider myself a realist. I think that it is in human nature to be inherently selfish and self-preserving; these are traits we need in order to survive and adapt. Everything we do has implications of personal gain; we hold the door for others to seem polite, we donate money to buff our sense of moral superiority. These beliefs may seem sardonic, but they aren't without foundation; the very basis of capitalism is that if people act out of self-interest, competition will ensue and the individual's selfishness will all be for the common good. My realism doesn't diminish my capacity for being a kind person; I just have a sense of self-awareness for my actions. I am self-aware and skeptical, and I am not ashamed to have these characteristics. They have allowed me to mature into an independent person who is capable of dealing with hardship.
