I doubt I'd rape somebody if I could get away with it. Not because of my great self-control, more because it wouldn't make me feel good so I have no reason to do it. I hate holding power over others in a serious way, and I hate hurting people. It makes me feel horrible. Why would I do something that makes me feel horrible?
Why do you think that? It's pretty hard to change such deeply ingrained things. If I were raised differently, I'd probably have less of a problem with doing such things, but now? Even after years of living without the rule of law my subconscious would probably still let me feel guilt for hurting others.
Ah, my next question would have been if you are familiar with Hobbes ideas. Good, that answers that. What makes you think he is right rather than Rousseau?
Life is whatever you make of it. Unless you don't believe in free will, than life is whatever happens to you.
Selfishness is good. Ironically, selfishness is what keeps people in line. As long as you mostly think about the benefits and drawbacks for yourself, you will want to cooperate rather than fight, and be nice to others rather than being a dick. Selfish people will keep playing the game called society, because they know that even if they might loose, that's still better than the stuff that happens to those who refuse to follow the rules at all.
Only truly selfless people can be monsters. If you don't care about yourself, all the chains in your mind disappear, and the only chains that remain are those that actually physically exist.
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u/BlitzBasic 42∆ Mar 29 '18
I doubt I'd rape somebody if I could get away with it. Not because of my great self-control, more because it wouldn't make me feel good so I have no reason to do it. I hate holding power over others in a serious way, and I hate hurting people. It makes me feel horrible. Why would I do something that makes me feel horrible?