I have a philosophical conundrum i am open to debate.

I believe humans to be violent not by nature but by environmental influence. Although, we feel hunger. Therefore we kill to eat. We made it to the top of the food chain because we have thumbs and imagination and eventually turned our weapons on eachother because of hunger, the corruption of greed and a misguided interpretation of wealth. Even the most humble of person might steal or kill when faced with starvation of themselves or thier loved ones. Is that selfish or nature?

We spend time "fighting for equality" but only for equality to our chosen groups regaurdless if it hurts others. Does that not become selfishness?

If we truly understood empathy would we not all starve together, leaving no man behind until all the food is gone if the case may be? We do not do that. We are split by the social classes we create and the idea that this paper money is wealth, yet few are truly happy. We have the unsaid idea that people who do not have money don't deserve food. Therefore those who do not conform to our cultural ideologies do not deserve thier life regaurdless if they chose to be born in it or not. That is selfish.

Are humans capable of true empathy? Or are we so divided by national identity and cultural ideolgies that we are doomed to implode by our own corrupted minds created by the societies we are born into.

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greencompass · 36-40, F

Well that was a lot. I think I have a vague gist of your arguments.. with key ideas being hunger, greed, selfishness, nature, empathy, groups.

Are you saying that because of the human need for food humans are innately and inevitably greedy for material goods and selfish? If so, I think that's quite a leap. It's one thing to wanna survive starving to death, it's another thing to hoard more resources than is necessary. I think hunger is definitely part of human nature; I'm not sure greed qualifies to the same degree.

We spend time "fighting for equality" but only for equality to our chosen groups regaurdless if it hurts others. Does that not become selfishness?

I think to fight for equality means to fight for X of all parties, hence equality, not just chosen groups. Do you mean equity rather than equality? Fighting for the interests of one's own group can be seen as self-interest sure. If you think things are strictly like a zero-sum game, sure self-interest means others get hurt. But zero-sum thinking neglects the fact that common interests do exist among humans and groups.

If we truly understood empathy would we not all starve together, leaving no man behind until all the food is gone if the case may be?

I think maybe you're conflating empathy with compassion. There is a limit to how much people can care sometimes. Compassion fatigue exists. That said, ideally all humans would be empathetic and attuned to the suffering, or in this case the hunger, of those less fortunate. I don't think that means humans would all starve together though. Rather humans would share what they can so that more people can eat.

We have the unsaid idea that people who do not have money don't deserve food. Therefore those who do not conform to our cultural ideologies do not deserve thier life regaurdless if they chose to be born in it or not. That is selfish.

I think it's warped to think that just because you don't have the means to afford food you don't deserve it. Likewise I don't see how the first sentence follows the second.

Are humans capable of true empathy?

Yes many humans are capable of empathizing. Many are even compassionate. Just cause different humans belong to different groups doesn't mean we're doomed to a fate of zero-sum games where the physiological need for food underpins the morality of all and makes everyone greedy.

Hopefully I caught at least part of what you're saying🤷🏻‍♀