Does self interest negate the positive effects of a country's actions?

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the implications of self-interest in the actions of countries, particularly in the context of humanitarian efforts and international relations. Participants explore whether self-interest negates the positive outcomes of a country's actions, using historical examples like the Marshall Plan and contemporary issues such as intervention in Sudan.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants argue that self-interest can lead to positive outcomes, citing the Marshall Plan as an example where selfish motives benefited others.
  • Others contend that self-interest raises questions about trust and complicates humanitarian missions, suggesting that motives can undermine the perceived altruism of actions.
  • A participant questions whether any country's actions can be entirely altruistic, implying that self-interest is inherent in all international actions.
  • There is a debate about the moral implications of self-interest, particularly when it results in harm to innocent people, with some arguing that saving lives should be prioritized over self-interest.
  • Concerns are raised about the effectiveness of diplomacy in preventing atrocities, with skepticism about the motivations behind diplomatic efforts.
  • Some participants express pessimism regarding the sincerity of humanitarian actions, suggesting they often serve political or self-serving purposes rather than genuine altruism.
  • Historical examples are discussed, including critiques of past leaders' motivations and actions in humanitarian crises, indicating a belief that political motives often overshadow humanitarian concerns.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus; multiple competing views remain regarding the relationship between self-interest and positive outcomes in international actions. The discussion reflects a range of opinions on the morality and effectiveness of self-interested actions.

Contextual Notes

Participants express varying degrees of skepticism about the possibility of purely altruistic actions by nations, indicating a complex interplay between motives and outcomes that remains unresolved.

member 5645
Does self interest negate the positive effects of a country's actions?

The USA is constantly claimed to be selfish, despite the result of 'selfish' acts being HIGHLY positive for others (The marshall plan is a great example).
Currently, it could be argued that we would like to develop oil trade in Sudan. but the genocide taking place is prohibiting that from happening.
Obivously genocide alone is a great reason to interfere, but let's just assume that the ONLY reason we wish to interfere is becasue peace in the region is condusive to us doing business there.

Is it wrong?
If not, then why do our not-so-altruistic deeds become slandered, despite the great help they are to many besides us?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Who has condemned the Marshall Plan?
 
The Marshall Plan is a good example. It was a benefit to Eastern Europe, but its entire purpose was bolstering a barrier against the USSR.

No, selfish interest which benefits other people is not bad... UNLESS it starts killing innocent people.
 
Self interest does not negate positive results, but it does raise questions about trust. When there is little or no self-interest, there is little distrust of motives. Once distrust enters into the situation, any humanitarian mission becomes more difficult to achieve. In this manner, interests and humanitarian objectives that should be synergystic, actually complicate each other.

Njorl
 
Has anyone got an example of an action by any country any time that was not in some sense self interested? I can't think of any, and if there are none, and we decide that self intrerest cancels goodness of actions, then we conclude that there have been no good actions by countries in all of human history.

Bite the bullet?
 
SelfAdjoint: See my earlier response. There have been "good" actions by nations. There have also been actions driven by self-interest which resulted in innocent people dying.
 
Adam said:
No, selfish interest which benefits other people is not bad... UNLESS it starts killing innocent people.
I don't think it is even that clear, is it bad if it saves more from dying then it's killed? Or is that irrelevent, because most self interest actions from states have resulted in the killing of innocent people. In fact..I'm having a hard time thinking of even one which did not.
 
kat said:
I don't think it is even that clear, is it bad if it saves more from dying than it's killed? Or is that irrelevent, because most self interest actions from states have resulted in the killing of innocent people. In fact..I'm having a hard time thinking of even one which did not.

One innocent death caused by such an action is too many.

Foreign aid (donating food to countries in druoght, for example) doesn't.
 
because of the self interest, or because one innocent death is too many, even if it saves say...2, 3 or, 5 more?
 
  • #10
One innocent death is too many. If the objective is self-interest, then saving those lives is not the objective anyway. Find another way.

Unfortunately, some governments don't want another way. The people in power, and their associates, are tied up with the defence contractors and resource companies, so that war becomes a profitable industry. They have no reason to seek other ways. They want war, they want the profits, and they kill people.
 
  • #11
Adam said:
One innocent death is too many. If the objective is self-interest, then saving those lives is not the objective anyway. Find another way.

Unfortunately, some governments don't want another way. The people in power, and their associates, are tied up with the defence contractors and resource companies, so that war becomes a profitable industry. They have no reason to seek other ways. They want war, they want the profits, and they kill people.

ANY action in Sudan would undoubtedly be met with atleast 1 innocent death. What do you do then, when it is estimated that 100,000's will die before this year is out without intervention?
 
  • #12
It's called "diplomacy".
 
  • #13
In the past your "It's called diplomacy" has meant we'll talk talk talk (and usually profit profit profit) while you kill kill kill, just don't send your refugees to our Euro borders or we'll have to act. Sharmutas the bunch of 'em.
 
  • #14
In the past your "It's called diplomacy" has meant we'll talk talk talk (and usually profit profit profit) while you kill kill kill, just don't send your refugees to our Euro borders or we'll have to act. Sharmutas the bunch of 'em.
Please try to do better next time.
 
  • #15
Historically correct, despite your denial.
 
  • #16
Adam said:
It's called "diplomacy".

Why don't you go into greater detail - it's easy to say that. It's harder to tell me what kind of diplomacy you will implement to stop militias from commiting genocide based on race and/or religion.
 
  • #17
Njorl said:
Self interest does not negate positive results, but it does raise questions about trust. When there is little or no self-interest, there is little distrust of motives. Once distrust enters into the situation, any humanitarian mission becomes more difficult to achieve. In this manner, interests and humanitarian objectives that should be synergystic, actually complicate each other.

Njorl
Maybe I'm pessimistic, but like S.A., I don't consider there to be such a thing as a purely altruistic act. Motives are always a question. That said, a selfish motive in general does not negate a positive act.

Adam: Neville Chaimberlain pursued diplomacy absolutely as well.
 
  • #18
An assertion is not a fact.
 
  • #19
russ_watters said:
Maybe I'm pessimistic, but like S.A., I don't consider there to be such a thing as a purely altruistic act. Motives are always a question. That said, a selfish motive in general does not negate a positive act.

Adam: Neville Chaimberlain pursued diplomacy absolutely as well.

Agreed, but some motives are more altruistic than others. Not wishing to live with the guilt of allowing another genocide can be seen as a selfish motive. But it is certainly more altruistic than trying to secure another nations raw materials.

Njorl
 
  • #20
Njorl said:
Agreed, but some motives are more altruistic than others. Not wishing to live with the guilt of allowing another genocide can be seen as a selfish motive.
Gee, I'm even more pessimistic than that (I blame that on Clinton): in recent years, our humanitarian actions have amounted to little more than grandstanding. Bush I in '91 was more interested in his coalition ('Hey, look at my huge, throbbing... coalition!') than siezing an opportunity to take down Saddam and Clinton told 19 marines in Somalia that their mission was not worth their lives and their lives weren't worth protecting with proper equipment. But hey - it made for some juicy news stories and a couple of points on an opinion poll. And that's what's important, right?
 
  • #21
russ_watters said:
Bush I in '91 was more interested in his coalition ('Hey, look at my huge, throbbing... coalition!') than siezing an opportunity to take down Saddam ...


You're the first person that I've recently heard say that Bush 1 screwed up (and Bush 2 got it right ?) I think daddy had a far better understanding than sonny boy about geo-political stability in the Middle East amongst other things like " what's 3 + 4 ?".

Also, a quick, overwhelming, uncomplicated and nearly lossless victory in the first Gulf War should have been enough to ensure re-election. It wasn't.

I agree with you on that one - it's opinion polls that seem to drive policy for the most part, at least after the first 2 years in office.

And what did Bush 2 have going for him before the Iraq War ? Let's see ... a touch of unemployment, the environment going down the drain, his "super clever" Medicare plan for the insurance and drug companies, Osama bin Laden making rap videos out of his Gangsta Cave, and yeah the happiness that is Enron.

And you suggest that he did the "right thing" - go to war against Iraq - not because he needed to, but because it was the right thing to do ?
 
Last edited:
  • #22
Clinton screwed up Somalia all right - tactically, at least. But what about Kosovo ? Would you say he was hedging his bets there, or that there was this Giant Pot of Gold waiting for him at the end of that war ?
 

Similar threads

News Is War Sometimes Necessary to Achieve Peace?
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
5K
News Should the US intervene in world problems?
  • · Replies 29 ·
Replies
29
Views
11K
News Ahmadinejad's speech at Durban II
  • · Replies 38 ·
2
Replies
38
Views
8K
  • Poll Poll
News EU-US Relations: Past, Present and Future
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
3K
News The US is the light - both literally and metaphorically
  • · Replies 52 ·
2
Replies
52
Views
8K
News Renaissance and reaction to Islam.
  • · Replies 49 ·
2
Replies
49
Views
8K
How to Write an Effective Appeal Letter for Academic Dismissal?
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
15K
News The Roots of Terrorism and US Foreign Policy
  • · Replies 31 ·
2
Replies
31
Views
6K
News First Projects, Then Principles by Richard Rorty
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
6K
News Bush Administration: My Indictment
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
4K