IMHO, One of the harder truths to acknowledge is that while most of us aren’t selfish, most of us are self-centered, and tend to use our anecdotal lives to judge the rest of existence.
It’s not a good or bad thing, but something to be recognized and dealt with so we can push our respective evolutions.
Yes, while reading about low self-esteem this past week, I acknowledged my guilt about globalizing conclusions from my POV to judge others. Another lesson realized, and more to address in myself.
It’s a never-ending process, and it’s so sneaky! Part of it is forgiving myself, because I realize that even though using my life to judge others is a self-centered point of view, I still have to honor the fact that it’s MY life, and is naturally charged with emotion as they are my experiences. I like to think of it as a game. 😉
Certainly.
The vast majority of eminent philosophers believe human altruism doesn’t exist – that what appears to be altruism is in fact an emotional reward to the self.
It explains why so few people are willing to help those in need. They can receive the exact same pleasure elsewhere.
Taking that philosophical thread down to the root, it’s possible that free will doesn’t exist; that if we were able to track all interactions down to the quantum level then everything would become totally predictable…but who knows? In light of that possibility I just try to do my best and give others the benefit of the doubt when it doesn’t interfere with practicality.
Kent Wayne 
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