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Actually both parents and non-parents exhibit selfishness, just of different flavors. Parents have natural urges to have kids (literally, evolution!). So it is
by RestlessMind 2y ago
Actually both parents and non-parents exhibit selfishness, just of different flavors.
Parents have natural urges to have kids (literally, evolution!). So it is self-explanatory.
Non-parents will need a younger generation when they grow old for satisfying all the Maslow hierarchies of needs (food, medical care, entertainment, funding social safety nets etc). So the ones who are not producing any kids by choice are consciously offloading their old-age care and hence act selfishly.
People in both categories may not be aware of their own flavor of selfishness.
- atonse 2y agoAgreed. I just thought it was unnecessary to just paint one side as purely selfish.
- CogitoCogito 2y ago> So the ones who are not producing any kids by choice are consciously offloading their old-age care and hence act selfishly. When my father was dying, I out of all his children was able to help him the most since I don't have children of my own. Clearly I could devote my life to helping old people and do more overall good for that group, then just producing children (who may or may not do so). In fact, I could make the claim that "the ones who *are* producing kids by choice are consciously producing more work for future generations to do hence acting selfishly". That position would be similarly asinine. But sure if you understand there is no inherent good to parenting and it's basically just people doing what they want to do (well when having the children by choice anyway), then I guess you maybe show a little humility. I may someday have children, but I'm under no illusion that I'd be doing the world a favor.