The book I'm reading right now suggests that in nature, the fittest and ones that survive in the struggle for existence all have one thing in common - that they are selfish.
This makes sense. If there are 2 birds and only 1 worm, and the survival of the birds depend on getting that one particular worm, then the selfish bird who goes for the worm survives. The altruistic bird dies and does not / can not find a mate, and his genes are never passed along. The selfish bird continues to live, and may find a mate, passing his genes along. And this kind of thing really does happen in nature, because organisms propagate at a rate much faster than resources.
Now, humans are a paradoxical species. To be selfish is looked down upon in human society. But unknowingly, it's true that the ones most selfish get what they need or want more often than those who do not. It's true that the altruistic sacrifice some part of their needs for others at the risk of their own property. The benefit of selfishness, however, is hard to see immediately in humans, because we don't get rewarded directly for it. Instead, we get criticized and snubbed by our peers.
Therefore, society has programmed us to do believe that being selfish is "bad". conversely, however, to be selfish is to be fit, which is really something good in nature. Did humans ever rise above nature? Some would say yes, but I still believe that we are subject to the forces of nature.
This helps explains why some of my motives seem selfish, and it also explains why I have become independent after all these years - - because I truly believe that the 'fittest' are the most selfish.
Let me equate this thought in more common terms. Whoever thought of the quote/theory "Nice guys finish last.." presents a belief quite similar to mine, but not exactly. It's just that nice people get walked all over, and their needs are met last.
Oh yeah, and on a side note..
Darwin talks about the dangers of inbreeding in his book, yet he married his cousin. Is it just me or isn't that a bit demented and hypocritical?
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