[Polymath20]

It would be too dangerous for me to get involved.

I couldn't do much to help anyways.

I can't take responsibility for anyone else's problems, I can barely handle my own.

What philosophy would these sentiments stem from?

[nettneu]

I would have thought they could stem from lots of different ones. But since I've just been reading about "utilitarianism" in another thread,
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, I'll mention that as an example. As defined in that thread, it would lead to those sentiments in the cases where the value to someone of the little help that you could give is not so great as the harm that would be caused to you by the danger mentioned, or by the worsening of your own problems because of the distraction. So that the overall consequence, subtracting the value of the harm to you from the value of the slight benefit caused by your help, came out negative.

[LadySpock]

self preservation

[Senseofrelief]

Give me the scenario - Then we decide if the 'actor' is a complete morally vacuous pussy or he has rationally assessed a situation then chosen to stay out of it.

[Rivers]

	Originally Posted by Polymath20 To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	It would be too dangerous for me to get involved.

I say this after over analyzing a situation and deciding that I am either too lazy to do it or it isn't worth my time.

	I couldn't do much to help anyways.

That's what I say when I want to justify me not doing something simply because I'm too lazy to do it.

	I can't take responsibility for anyone else's problems, I can barely handle my own.

I think this to myself a lot, leave me be and don't distract me.

	What philosophy would these sentiments stem from?

I don't think it can be attrbuted to a single philosophy. It doesn't even have to be a philosophy, it can simply be a set of personal traits, like in my case. But if I had to attribute it to something, it would be egocentrism.

[Polymath20]

	Originally Posted by Senseofrelief To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	Give me the scenario - Then we decide if the 'actor' is a complete morally vacuous pussy or he has rationally assessed a situation then chosen to stay out of it.

Assuming that the reasons for inaction were true. For instance attempting to enter a burning building on the verge of collapse. Or intervening in a drug war. Assuming that you were observing something that you wanted to change but realized the futility of attempting to do so.

[nettneu]

	Originally Posted by Polymath20 To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	Assuming that you were observing something that you wanted to change but realized the futility of attempting to do so.

If the statements are assumed to reflect a reaction to the idea of attempting something that actually is futile, then they don't so much stem from a philosophy as from realism and common sense.

[Polymath20]

	Originally Posted by nettneu To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	If the statements are assumed to reflect a reaction to the idea of attempting something that actually is futile, then they don't so much stem from a philosophy as from realism and common sense.

But some people will still do things, like volunteer in Africa. Realistically, to me, it seems that the costs of just getting to Africa to volunteer are vastly greater than donating that money directly to a charity which is already established. The costs of volunteering can be upwards of $8000... which just gets one person there to do what? What's the value of one more person in the field? $8000 could have bought food for a family for a year or more AND all their vaccines AND shelter.

All for what? The selfish, ego-stroking experience of "I went to Africa to help!" - utterly futile exercise.

I guess I should have framed the thread differently: What kinds of delusional people do things like get involved in acts of futility?

[Homini Lupus]

I've been into volunteering for some time.
My impression is that those acts of "futility" (sometimes they are futile, sometimes they really do something useful for their community) are practiced by people who actually finds happiness in doing so. If you ask them, they generally tell you things like "they (people being given help) give me back more than I give them". It makes them feel good so it is rational for them to do so. It didn't make me feel good so I simply gave up.

[Analyze]

	Originally Posted by LadySpock To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	self preservation

I think this sums things up nicely.

[nettneu]

	Originally Posted by Polymath20 To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	The selfish, ego-stroking experience of "I went to Africa to help!" - utterly futile exercise.

Ego-stroking isn't futile for an ego that wants to be stroked.