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RE: The Moral Molecule Under The Microscope #2: On An Erroneous And Antiquated Economic View Of Human Behavior
Ok I guess I am the older generation. I've always told myself that each individual acting in their own rational self-interest creates the best outcome for a society. So I never viewed it as selfish or counter to whats best for those around you. But I guess instead of grappling with that I should be grappling with the fact that people do not behave in their own rational self interest.
I agree that for the most part we are self-interested. But if you define rationality as this logical, analytical, unchanging, unemotional approach, then we are irrational. And I hate that we have given it this term. I think that those unselfish, emotional, etc. behaviors have their own rationality of existing. Take, altruism for example. It does not make sense when studied from this economic perspective. But if seen from a societal point of view, it is beneficial, therefore rational in its own way.