Hardin makes a good point: Look out for yourself, and only yourself, and you will probably get the chance to see another day. Sounds pretty good until you bring into question lingering aspects of morality, the importance of a somewhat clear conscious, and the basic human principle that helping yourself is not always beneficial in the long run. But, Mr. Hardin willingly overlooked these considerations in his essay The Case Against Helping the Poor, and for that, some concerns have to be raised about whether Hardin is correct, and even if, do we as a society want to stoop to low levels to "win.".
Garrett Hardin's big point: the earth is like this gargantuan lifeboat that has only enough retail space to seat a set number of passengers- a number that Hardin feel's has already been surpassed. For those passengers lucky enough to be on board (by "lucky" I mean that most wealth that would get you a seat on board is not gained by hard work but through some fortunate twist of Life), there are expedient questions to be answered. Do we let more people on board? Who do we choose? Should we let them all drown and move on with our life? Hardin answers "Yes" to the last question and dryly states that, "The net result of conscience-stricken people giving up their unjustly held seats is the elimination of that sort of conscience from the lifeboat." What Hardin is really saying is that a troubled conscience is not that big a deal. Contrary to moral thought, an uneasy conscience only blurs realistic, self-interested vision, and therefore, the less conscientious objectors on board, the better for the rest of the occupants. With this obvious lack of moral understanding, Hardin has obviously chosen the wrong ideal- survival over morality. So what- we get to live one more measly day. Did we sell our soul, our morals, and our fellow humans for that tainted capsule of time? When you act in a selfish manner, like Hardin suggests, you do exactly that.
Several cases have been fought for the right to choose. ... On this view, the greatest of all evils is selfishness. To act in one's own self-interest, rather than acting as a means to the ends of others, is inhumane. There are two ways about this issue: to have an abortion is a selfish act. ... The object theory of ethics and politics is the root against antiabortion. ...
People are selfishly clearing up their local environment and reducing the quality of it elsewhere. ... Their health too is at risk and this selfishness reduces their quality of life. ... The lack of beneficial interaction with these inhabitants is the case for their quality of life. ... Instead mankind is destroying life on earth and acting against God's will. ... They respect God their tradition and religion by acting in his favour....
He simply desires his war booty, which, in many cases, is the wealth he receives through the blood and sweat of his men. ... Whether people actually believe this or whether they are just too afraid to go against the common trend varies; however the majority seem to fit in the last category. ... Agamemnon is constantly acting selfish and greedy, constantly reflecting about the various ways in which to acquire power. ... However, the degree of his honor is simply measured by false public recognition and by his selfish desires to become powerful. ...
However, the degree of selfishness varies greatly from character to character, and in rare instances some less selfish characters will even opt for the moral high ground at their own expense. ... By repeatedly displaying selfish, immoral characters achieving greater material success than their less self-involved counterparts, the novel Catch-22 implies that acting in the interest of others requires one to sacrifice opportunities for material self-advancement The chaplain is perhaps the most moral and conscientious character in the novel, and because of this, the other members of the squadro...
Moreover they both attack conventional morality.Due to O.Wilde's homosexuality that was considered a criminal offence at that time,he was against this conventional morality.He went to jail and was released 2 years later and died as an outcast. ... Another conflict that occurs in the play is marriage.It is presented to us as an ritual,an automatic acting that doesn't include romance or feelings but it depends on social status or name.As Gwendolyn and Cecily are not sure if they could love someone who's name wasn't Earnest : "It has always been my ideal to love someone b...
The scaremongering on the part of those paid to sway the town hall debates will impact the quality of that healthcare package in the following ways: 1) Senators and Congressmen whose jobs are less than secure in the upcoming midterm election will either vote against the bill or else will be very public about their displeasure with parts of the bill that their constituents care about. In places where the constituents feel that abortion is murder, for example the legislator is more likely to rail against the bill if it includes coverage for women who choose to abort. ... Moderates are pulli...
After having been a good son for years he's now about to start acting strange and crazy. ... On the other hand we hear his feelings about his injustice against Laertes, "But I am very sorry, good Horatio, That to Laertes I forgot myself (5;2, L 85-86)." ... Hamlet was also not the one who instigated any of this, he was only responding to injustices against him. ... Hamlet isn't corrupt at all at least not in the same sense you would call someone like Claudius or Stalin (two very different cases). ... Deciding to kill Claudius was also a selfish choice for ...
Also in the state of law, all men have the equal right to reprimand others who go against the laws of nature. ... This can be supported by the following case laws; Insurance Co. vs. ... Human beings by their very own nature are selfish and will strive to achieve their selfish ends. ... This means that people who made a certain agreement should try to keep it and not going against it. ... It is a case of survival for the fittest while the weak are extinct. ...
Considering his wife's morphine addiction and the pressure from his recalcitrant son's monetary needs, James puts up a rather good fight against fate. ... Whereas the money that he so eagerly hoards has no meaning, the acting talent that he so regrettably loses means everything. ... The selfishness James displayed during Edmund's birth as well as his continuous thriftiness finally provides perspective for him. ... Though says this before his epiphany, the fact still stands that he challenges the selfishness within himself. ... Like her husband, James Tyrone, and his acting talen...
