Law in Contemporary Society

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DutyandResponsibility 15 - 25 Jan 2008 - Main.TedKreit
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I'm actually really glad no one used the words "duty" or "responsibility" in their introductory statements. I don't believe in the concept of altruism. No one does anything from which they don't benefit and I'm glad that no one decided to declare him or herself a martyr for society. If being self-sacrificing makes you feel good, then you are benefiting from your "altruistic" act. One should commit his or her life to something they love, something that brings joy. Doing something out of guilt (which is how I see "duty") will not bring you joy or self-satisfaction in life and ultimately, you can't be truly committed or good at something you do with a groan. -- KateVershov - 24 Jan 2008
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 I see no reason why duty or responsibility cannot align with self-interest or self-satisfaction. Duty simply means obligation. It does not mean non- satisfying acts. Indeed, fulfilling one's obligation may make one happier than anything else. This does not mean that the individual is not obligated to do the given act. Joy is a result of action; duty precedes action. The concepts are thus logically independent, and the supposed contradiction is contrived.

-- AndrewHerink - 24 Jan 2008

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I disagree with the idea that self-interest impels all action.

Cardozo said "Danger invites rescue." Consider the story of Wesley Autrey, the "Subway Hero" (link below). Of course Autrey benefited from his actions in the end, but had he performed a pure self-interest cost-benefit analysis, doing nothing for this stranger and feeling guilty about it would have weighed more heavily than risking death and being lauded for it.

Another example that comes to mind is Arland Williams, the "sixth survivor" of Air Florida Flight 90 (link below). It seems to me that if Williams had acted in his self-interest, he would have been better off grabbing the lifeline for himself and feeling bad about failing to save some strangers than passing the lifeline to others and drowning.

There are several things that drive people to act against their self-interest, including fear and inertia (as Eben talked about the first day), and yes, altruism.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wesley_Autrey http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arland_D._Williams_Jr.

-- TedKreit - 25 Jan 2008

 
 
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Revision 15r15 - 25 Jan 2008 - 01:08:36 - TedKreit
Revision 14r14 - 24 Jan 2008 - 20:22:55 - AndrewGradman
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