self-interest
Self-interest is how a child thinks, because they only have themselves to think about. As we grow, we learn to contribute to the community, becoming aware of the needs of others, and are rewarded for our efforts. When adult, our concerns extend beyond that of ourselves, as we care for dependents and the wider community. It may be called altruism, or responsibility, but either way, maturity means we no longer think in terms of ‘what’s in it for me’. If we do, we’re still children.
Our fundamental (and erroneous) preoccupation with ‘self-interest’ is the primary cause of our somewhat tepid response to our impending self-induced extinction. A trajectory that we have properly been aware of for over six decades, but as yet we have made no meaningful steps to divert. In truth, we continue to accelerate this seemingly inevitable conclusion, and although we are fully aware of what we’re doing wrong, the question of why we continue to do so, is rarely explored.
Self-interest is deeply embedded in how we manage all human affairs, from personal concerns to global politics, and yet it is both primitive and inappropriate. The two main issues that perpetuate and justify our motivation to focus solely on our own personal or group interests lies in the belief that we are independent and autonomous entities, supporting the notion that we are supposedly responsible for ourselves. This belief makes us introspective, indulgent, and selfish; attitudes which reflect an immaturity in terms of our true potential. As will become evident, the ‘self’ that we all think we are, along with the belief that we have the free-will to make our own choices, are simply illusions.
This is neither an interpretation, nor a philosophical distraction. By drawing on the latest revelations of neuroscience and other relevant scientific disciplines, we can utilise our contemporary understanding of the biological system that we are, to intelligently establish strategies that realistically consider the long term future survival of both our species and the diversity of life on the planet.