Mischief as a graduate student taught me something unusual. A class of 35 graduate students fomented an argument between our Economics Professor and our Organizational Behavior professor. I will skip the cross discipline insults these professors gave in offense or defense of their disciplines. But, it seems that humans are not cleanly rational as the economic model suggests nor are they driven solely by tribal instincts to team spirit or in fighting.
Struggling to stitch these ideas in to a single picture, I watched drivers on the freeway over a long multi-state drive. I sorted their actions into self-interested, community-interested and simply nuts.
Of 97 events where a decision was made by the driver that I could classify the following break out occurred.
19 were neighborly uses of lane changes, lane merges and responses to posted signs. 18 were simply silly actions on the road. 60 were selfish uses of lane changes, lane merges, ignoring signs for personal advantage. Statistical note: the 95% Confidence line or luck of the draw is +/- 11 actions in this sample.
Realizing that every tendency of these drivers will at some point occur to me also, this comes to the following more balanced view of myself.
3/16 of my actions are about caring for others. 10/16 of my actions are focused on caring for myself directly. 3/16 of my actions should simply be fun without any need for a reason.
Even noble figures face distress with some form of enlightened self interest. In Hebrews 12:2, it says of Jesus Christ and his crucifixion the following: "...For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame..." Christ knows the long term gain that was worth his pain and acts for our gain and his longer term benefit. (Noble Interest: 3/16 + Long Term Self Interest 10/16.)
On May 18, 2014 DonTurnblade wrote:
Mischief as a graduate student taught me something unusual. A class of 35 graduate students fomented an argument between our Economics Professor and our Organizational Behavior professor. I will skip the cross discipline insults these professors gave in offense or defense of their disciplines. But, it seems that humans are not cleanly rational as the economic model suggests nor are they driven solely by tribal instincts to team spirit or in fighting.
Struggling to stitch these ideas in to a single picture, I watched drivers on the freeway over a long multi-state drive. I sorted their actions into self-interested, community-interested and simply nuts.
Of 97 events where a decision was made by the driver that I could classify the following break out occurred.
19 were neighborly uses of lane changes, lane merges and responses to posted signs.
18 were simply silly actions on the road.
60 were selfish uses of lane changes, lane merges, ignoring signs for personal advantage.
Statistical note: the 95% Confidence line or luck of the draw is +/- 11 actions in this sample.
Realizing that every tendency of these drivers will at some point occur to me also, this comes to the following more balanced view of myself.
3/16 of my actions are about caring for others.
10/16 of my actions are focused on caring for myself directly.
3/16 of my actions should simply be fun without any need for a reason.
Even noble figures face distress with some form of enlightened self interest.
In Hebrews 12:2, it says of Jesus Christ and his crucifixion the following:
"...For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame..."
Christ knows the long term gain that was worth his pain and acts for our gain and his longer term benefit. (Noble Interest: 3/16 + Long Term Self Interest 10/16.)