Jul 24 2007
Altruism
I’ve heard it many times over that parents’ love is the only unconditional love out there. The least quid pro quo? Hmmmm … for a fact, I knew in the past parents were expected to be taken care by their sons 养儿防老. Our love for kids should be unconditional, since it is us who decided to have them. Kids had no say in this matter whatsoever. Does this qualify as quid pro quo? Well, in a way it is. When we decided to have kids, we envisioned a happier, fulfilled family for kids bring lots of joy into our life, we get to play the protector part. Does this make sense? No?
Ok, try this: Adam Smith, in his book A Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations published in 1776, wrote “It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker, that we can expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interest.”