>I'm not much given to faith as the basis of a monist ethic, especially one
>which encompasses the Earth. But, my impression is that even faith is based
>on something better than "I chose to believe whatever I want." Which, IMO,
>the issue of sentience of the Earth is largely that. I can, if I chose,
>believe that Martians have invaded the Earth and are turning us into
>mindless drones. However, there is at least some emperical evidence to
>refute that. Same with the Earth being sentient, there is no emperical
>evidence for and at least some against.
>
>Anyhow, these scientific pantheists seem to be working in the same
>direction. I don't know if I detect any harm here, other than it is not an
>arguement I'll use in front of the Senate Agriculture Committee when
>destifying on pollution controls on hog farms.
I think it is important to realize that in the context of altruism that
attitudes toward the earth are influential especially in children. Some
altruistic behavior in children such as 1) perspective taking, 2) empathic,
3) sympathetic abilities as well as other abilities are learned. Much of our
early education is devoted to developing these abilities.
I did a key word search on Scientific Internationals & Ebscot data base. I
was not able to find very many published abstracts on altruism and the
environment. There are a few. The primary research on altruism appears to be
in economics, medical ethics and sociology. It appears to be a very powerful
motivational feature in solving the "Tradegy of The Commons". There are
several conclusions that may be derived from the literature and analysis:
altruism is a form of non-rational egoism [if you are not an altruist then
it is better to die broke]; it is often a culturally learned attitude or
behaviour and may be described as trans-kin altruism [Canada has a voluntary
blood system and the USA does not have a voluntary blood system]; intragroup
solidarity is enhanced by kin altruism; complex human exchange systems are
enhanced by altruism; altruism as a motivation explains helpers in human
groups; collective social action assumes "non-rational egoism" that is
altruistic.
Imaging how another feels is empathy and this leads to altruistic
motivation. Imaging how oneself feels is empathy and often results in
distress which may lead to egoism rather than altruism[1]. However empathy
and distress for another is not egoism but altruism. Altruism is not an
emotion. Altruism consists in the observation that a self, other than the
self that is the benefactor, has been benefitted by some non-rational
egoless action. An exception of course here is reciprocal altruism, however
altruism in when it is reciprocal means the action is voluntary, free of
expectation for any reward, and benefits the recipient. Altruism requires
imagining how another feels.
1. Perspective taking: Imagining how another feels versus imagining how
you would feel
Batson CD, Early S, Salvarani G
PERSONALITY AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY BULLETIN
23: (7) 751-758 JUL 1997
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