The exciting conclusion to yesterday's paper!
The examples provided by the interviewees showed that in each instance the actor decide to put their immediate happiness above that of another or others. Bethany Hayes reported one story of a child she knew that fit the definition of brutality. The child was known to frequently claim to have killed a variety of small defenseless animals, often suffocating or cudgeling the animals to death. The students reported frequently to teachers and other supervisors that the behavior “made him happy”. [3] Peterson related a similar story of a child who beat on a little girl so violently that the little girl required medical attention. [1] Further during the whole experience as the girl cried and pleaded for escape the boy laughed and saw no reason to halt his actions. [1] Vandes Price also told a short story of boys from his elementary school shoving another child into the ground repeatedly when that child attempted to play basketball with them. [4] This sort of self-centered motivation, looking out for one’s own happiness and safety before that of other’s also appears in a variety of articles.
The Reader’s Digest article titled, “Trapped on the Tracks” reports about one such man. Two women and a man were attempting to remove their trailer from railroad tracks across which a train was expected to travel in a matter of minutes. [8] Pushing had gotten the three-some nowhere, until, “Just then, Deborad saw a tow truck. She jumped up and down and waved her arms. ‘Stop! We need help!’ The driver looked her in the eye but kept going.” [8] No help came from the man who did not care if others died or were injured because of his inaction. Reports from Auschwitz also indicate that some people even knowing that their actions would not help themselves in the long run, simply wanted others to suffer with them. [9] “One woman, already in the gas chamber, shouted out to a non-commissioned officer the address of a Jewish family. A man who, to judge by his clothes and deportment, appeared to be of very good standing gave me, while actually undressing, a piece of paper on which was listed the addresses of Dutch families who were hiding Jews.” [9] As one last example, an article on the headhunting practices of the Ilongot reveals that this brutal practice serves no other purpose than as a ritual to determine the manhood of a male. [10] These examples too fit the definition given for brutality. That is, putting the safety and happiness of self before others, often through use of physical force.
All of these examples fit the dichotomy of altruism and brutality. Both are motivated from the basic human emotion of happiness. Why we have both of these attitudes is because some decide that the immediate happiness, frequently in the form of physical safety, of another should come before the immediate happiness of one’s self. They decide that their happiness in the future depends on giving their best effort to help another. On the other hand, those with brutal attitudes decide that their immediate happiness, or safety, should come before another and that taking action to harm another, or not taking action to prevent harm, is the best course of action. Therefore, as we go through life making our own choices of altruism or brutality and judging others for their actions we should realize where these attitudes come from and attempt, if we feel necessary, to change where we derive happiness from. For this, ultimately will change the actions of others.
References
The examples provided by the interviewees showed that in each instance the actor decide to put their immediate happiness above that of another or others. Bethany Hayes reported one story of a child she knew that fit the definition of brutality. The child was known to frequently claim to have killed a variety of small defenseless animals, often suffocating or cudgeling the animals to death. The students reported frequently to teachers and other supervisors that the behavior “made him happy”. [3] Peterson related a similar story of a child who beat on a little girl so violently that the little girl required medical attention. [1] Further during the whole experience as the girl cried and pleaded for escape the boy laughed and saw no reason to halt his actions. [1] Vandes Price also told a short story of boys from his elementary school shoving another child into the ground repeatedly when that child attempted to play basketball with them. [4] This sort of self-centered motivation, looking out for one’s own happiness and safety before that of other’s also appears in a variety of articles.
The Reader’s Digest article titled, “Trapped on the Tracks” reports about one such man. Two women and a man were attempting to remove their trailer from railroad tracks across which a train was expected to travel in a matter of minutes. [8] Pushing had gotten the three-some nowhere, until, “Just then, Deborad saw a tow truck. She jumped up and down and waved her arms. ‘Stop! We need help!’ The driver looked her in the eye but kept going.” [8] No help came from the man who did not care if others died or were injured because of his inaction. Reports from Auschwitz also indicate that some people even knowing that their actions would not help themselves in the long run, simply wanted others to suffer with them. [9] “One woman, already in the gas chamber, shouted out to a non-commissioned officer the address of a Jewish family. A man who, to judge by his clothes and deportment, appeared to be of very good standing gave me, while actually undressing, a piece of paper on which was listed the addresses of Dutch families who were hiding Jews.” [9] As one last example, an article on the headhunting practices of the Ilongot reveals that this brutal practice serves no other purpose than as a ritual to determine the manhood of a male. [10] These examples too fit the definition given for brutality. That is, putting the safety and happiness of self before others, often through use of physical force.
All of these examples fit the dichotomy of altruism and brutality. Both are motivated from the basic human emotion of happiness. Why we have both of these attitudes is because some decide that the immediate happiness, frequently in the form of physical safety, of another should come before the immediate happiness of one’s self. They decide that their happiness in the future depends on giving their best effort to help another. On the other hand, those with brutal attitudes decide that their immediate happiness, or safety, should come before another and that taking action to harm another, or not taking action to prevent harm, is the best course of action. Therefore, as we go through life making our own choices of altruism or brutality and judging others for their actions we should realize where these attitudes come from and attempt, if we feel necessary, to change where we derive happiness from. For this, ultimately will change the actions of others.
References
[1]
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J. Peterson, Interviewee, Interview on Altruism/Brutatlity. [Interview]. 7 February 2014.
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[2]
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C. Rosa, Interviewee, Interview on Altruism/Brutatlity. [Interview]. 9 February 2014.
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[3]
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B. Hayes, Interviewee, Interview on Altruism/Brutatlity. [Interview]. 9 February 2014.
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[4]
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V. Price, Interviewee, Interview on Altruism/Brutatlity. [Interview]. 9 February 2014.
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[5]
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J. Tirella, "Heroes: Close Call in a Hotel Fire," Reader's Digest, 2008.
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[6]
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L. Rosellini, "Slasher Attack," Reader's Digest, 2008.
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[7]
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G. C. West, "After the Tornado," Reader's Digest, 2008.
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[8]
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C. Free, "Trapped on the Tracks," Reader's Digest, 2008.
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[9]
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R. Hoess, in Commandant of Aushwitz, New York, The World Publishing Company, pp. 76-81; 148-157; 166-175;.
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[10]
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H. Jacobson, "Ilongot Headhunting," Pacific Affairs, vol. 54, no. 3, pp. 572-574, 1981.
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