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It also misses the point of local tribe mentality deeply rooted in all of our brains. We care about our closer relations far more than some other far away ones
by me_me_me 5y ago
It also misses the point of local tribe mentality deeply rooted in all of our brains.
We care about our closer relations far more than some other far away ones.
Therefore we are far more empathetic towards family and friends, than neighbours, than neighbouring nation, than country on the other side of the world you didn't know was there.
Me giving $100 to neighbour is different to $100 to malaria fighting foundation.
- tasty_freeze 5y ago> It also misses the point of local tribe mentality deeply rooted in all of our brains. Singer fully acknowledges the instinct you reference. But he points out there are other circumstances where we override our brute instincts based on social strictures and an intellectual understanding of the bigger picture. For instance, most of us have a far stronger instinctive urge to violence than we actually practice. If someone steals my car I may be tempted to beat him grievously, but I don't even if it might feel powerfully right at the moment.