The good fight

Adam

A simple question. Do you think nations can afford to fight wars (not including wars of defence) out of altruism? Yes or no?

phatmonky

this can't be answered with any possible accuracy.

Bystander

What wars have ever been fought out of genuine altruism rather than PR or propagandized altruism?

Shahil

With worldly issues as it is now, won't a definition of "altruism" and "wars of defence" be apt? In certain cases (and through propoganda) it SEEMS that the two are very much blurred.

russ_watters

The question may be simple, but the answer is extrordinarily complex. One might argue (for example), that there is no such thing as altruism. Even seemingly altruistic actions will have personal consequences.

Adam

If one argued that there is no such thing as altruism, that one must be saying that the USA does not go to war for altruism. Simple.

phatmonky

That's what you have been saying all along.