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Mon 4 Jun, 2007 12:52 pm
Is there an inherent expectation of reciprocity in kindness?
Is kindness a function of the group / tribal / social survival drive?
Do religionists perceive kindness differently than the irreligious?
I guess it depends on your definition of kindness. If you view it purely as a mechanism used by a person (who probably acts then out of selfish means) to be used as a way to survive in a society, then the answers would be yes and yes to the first two questions.
If you see this sort of action in a more benevolent, less cynical way, as a
pure random act of kindness out of the bottom of one's heart, then...
the naswer to the first two questions would be no and no.
As for the third one?
Well, the act itself would probably be viewed the same. I mean, if a christian and an atheist watch while a person rescues a cat from a tree ( to give a silly example), bot the atheis and the christian see the same act, and will probably both regard it as an act of kindness. Of course, the religious person would tie a different reward system (if such a thing applies to the situation of course) to this particular action. (Perhaps a positive remark in St. Peter's book of admittance to heaven orr some such thing).
Naj
neologist wrote:No
No
No
That well explains your presence (pun).
Chumly wrote:neologist wrote:No
No
No
That well explains your presence (pun).
You asked for an answer. It costs more for an explanation. :wink:
Chumly wrote:neologist wrote:Chumly wrote:neologist wrote:No
No
No
That well explains your presence (pun).
You asked for an answer. It costs more for an explanation. :wink:
What price?
Speshul deel fer you, Chumly. Got sum answers what wuz only used by a little ole lady goin' back 'n forth to 'er chiraprakter onc't a weak. . .
I think kindness (at least one form of it) is a consequence of empathy. Empathy, it seems, may be a method of learning painful lessons without risk to our own skins. Our imagination lets us feel the pain of another person and stops us making the mistakes they made, but it also drives us to want to stop that pain we feel, by picking up that little old lady off the footpath.
If your perspective has merit then it could be argued that younger children could not / would not show/feel kindness unless perhaps you assert the claim that kindness is a "function of the group / tribal / social survival drive" as this would infer a genetic basis and not an empathy/learned one.
In the broader sense you might also well ask if the empathy/kindness as learned in the manner you suggest is part an "inherent expectation of reciprocity".
I'm not sure reciprocity has anything to do with it. Rather, the pain you feel gives me some small pain (via empathy) so alleviating yours, alleviates mine too.
Consciously one may say "because it makes me feel good to help people". I do think some people help other people with expectation of reward, but I see that as a different thing, not "kindness" per se.
Eorl wrote:I do think some people help other people with expectation of reward, but I see that as a different thing, not "kindness" per se.
If it is in some sense "a different thing", to the uninvolved casual observer one may argue it's the same and it's a matter of perspective/intent and not result.
I'm watching the TV special on Queen while I type this stuff so I've half a mind on the posts.
A "kind" of magic, huh?
Perhaps we do experience different types of kindness differently. Sometimes we know when we are being treated kindly with the expectation of reward, and we react to it very differently. Like when Freddie Mercury buys you a drink in a bar...
Released 17th March, 1986 - Spent 5 weeks on chart and reached number 3
http://www.queenwords.com/lyrics/songs/sng15_02.shtml
Never saw them live though.
I was thinking about kindness the other day... in the context of, what traits I would instill in a child, if I am so blessed to have one ...
Being kind and ethical were two of the biggies...
Your best chance of success
is to convince him that those principles
r optimally in his self-interest.
Teaching children that kindness and generosity are ultimately in their own best interest, is probably the best way indeed to install those values. But, really, how sad is it that we must show to the benefits of any action for the self before people are willing to accept them?
HAve we devolved so far?
Naj
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