Today’s writing is very stream-of-consciousness and unstructured, but I always love talking about this subject. I’m currently focusing on quantity>quality so I can have some stuff up on my Substack before I follow a set posting schedule.
I've been wanting to write about current events, but I want to fully do it justice. Several of my friends have escaped the war in Sudan and genocide in Gaza. Seeing the effects of war on them and the children in their families reminds me that our silence contributes to their suffering. I’ve had a few interviews lately, including an informal one with NBC, and I always try to find a way to incorporate these topics into them. In a recent interview, I rambled for ten minutes about the horrors these countries face, and then immediately forgot how I phrased things (lol). I tend to articulate my thoughts better in the moment rather than through a script or essay, so I’m waiting for the interview transcripts to draw inspiration from.
However, since we’re on the topic of humanity’s collective efforts for survival, it’s important to tie it into current events. People often say, “It’s not my problem,” when asked to use their privilege to speak for those deprived of their voices. What they don’t realize is that their apathy will eventually deprive them of their voices, making it their problem one day or another. Ignoring the blatant censorship of people begging to be heard means aiding in the normalization of censorship, which will slowly strip away our own freedom of expression.
Let today’s newsletter be a reminder of our potential to uplift one another, ourselves, and our capability of fighting for those who need hope the most. I remain hopeful for the people who have suffered under brutal hands, and I believe our will to survive and help one another will pave the way for change.
Being Selfishly Selfless
Are people naturally good or bad? Some people argue that our intrinsic nature is rooted in evil, while others believe that people are fundamentally good.
The third option I’d like to offer is that humans are neither good nor bad; rather, we are naturally selfish. In this context, “selfish” should not carry any negative connotations. It is in our biological hardwiring to prioritize our survival above all else. Self-preservation is at the core of the human mind and is a driving force for all our actions. People are inclined to do both good and bad as justification for their instinct to survive and reproduce.
To illustrate this, consider two examples where behaviors are motivated by selfish reasons, albeit in differing ways. One is destructive, and the other is altruistic. Ultimately, both are selfish.
Consider theft. Those who engage in criminal activity often come from communities where such actions are seen as a necessary means of survival. They are motivated by the concept of monetary security and individual profit to maintain their needs. They hold the belief that theft provides them a higher chance at survival and fitness.
People who give charity can do so for several reasons, though every reason will relate to selfish desires in some shape or form (remember- “selfish” doesn’t have a negative connotation). For those who give charity publicly, such as celebrities, it often becomes associated with their identity, therefore giving them more social leverage and charm. Those who give charity privately may seek fulfillment or personal validation. More importantly, they are engaging in biological altruism, which also increases their chances of survival by strengthening their community’s chances of survival.
The general definition of altruism is having selfless concern or aiding others with no self-interest in mind. But without our natural, selfish tendencies, I believe we would not have altruism. Just as the need for survival is deeply rooted in who we are, so is altruism; these two concepts have a deep intersection that drives both the survival of the individual and the survival of the human race as a whole.
While altruistic behaviors may truly come from a place of other-concern and kindness, it ultimately is reliant on our biological need for survival. In certain species, an organism will often put itself at risk, decreasing its fitness, to protect and increase the fitness of another organism of the same species. While this seems counter-productive to the goal of survival, it actually increases each organism’s fitness. The trade-off for putting their lives on the line for one another was that each organism would be guaranteed the security and strength of its community in the long run.
By having other-concern, we typically are engaging in self-concern subconsciously. In other words, by caring for those around us, we care for ourselves by extension. We may feel distress at a loved one’s hurt and feel the urge to help without expecting reciprocation. Though it comes from a place of other-concern, it’s a natural, biological instinct to help one another, as humans are social creatures. When we help one another, we are bettering our chances as a human race of survival, and increasing both our communal and personal fulfillment.
Encouraging the success and support of those around you will never take away from your success, but will instead add to it. The growth of the individuals in a community cultivates the growth and betterment of the community as a whole. A very common phrase nowadays is “I don’t owe anybody anything”, which I used to agree with adamantly a few years back. But I’ve changed my mind. I believe that we do owe one another a lot, we are made to support one another and give in to our altruistic tendencies rather than continue down the path of apathy.
We’ve been conditioned to view altruism as a threat to our growth as individuals, but no one is ever fully invincible. Even if someone doesn’t see a need for altruism, there will come a time when they will unexpectedly need social support, and their community, bred on apathy, will be inadequately prepared to help them.
Altruism isn’t about what others can provide for you, but about what you can provide for others, trusting that your behaviors are bringing a positive light to your community, and trusting that your community will shine that light back on you when you need it the most. Humans are naturally selfish, but also naturally altruistic. May we always be “selfishly altruistic”, deeply intertwined in each other’s survival, where the success of others equates to our own. May we always share a collective hope of survival despite the fearful things we witness in the world today. We owe it to one another.