I wholeheartedly, without waiver or fail, believe in the best in people. It's my greatest strength and my biggest weakness.
More people than you think will do the right thing simply because it is the right thing.
Human beings are biologically and genetically pre-inclined to care about the well-being of each other. Human beings exhibit something behavioral biologist refer to as altruism. An act of altruism is generally defined as "when an organism's behavior benefits other organisms, at a cost to itself", e.g. when you do something good for someone else at a risk or loss to yourself.
So yeah, the good is there.
Other species also exhibit altruistic behaviors. Example: The Vervet monkey will howl to alert others at the sight of a predator. This howl attracts attention to the monkey making the alarm call, therefore the monkey in question is sacrificing his own personal fitness/safety to save others. Many times the monkey that howls is the first to die. Yet, it will howl to save countless others (and not just familial relations) at the risk of its own life.
But why?
Why do we as humans do it? Why does the "good samaritan" scenario play itself out over and over again on a daily basis around the world?
Sure it's easy to argue the opposite. Why do people put their own selves above others? Each individual wants to live, survive, prosper. Also, caring about your family is easy because you ideally would like your genetic markers, reproductively, to carry on. You also love your family.
But why is it people will put their lives on the line for a stranger? Why does an instinct sometimes kick in to do the right thing?
Meh, I'm not sure. I don't have any answers. If you thought I did, well I'm sorry, I have more questions than anyone. Here's what I do know though:
There's good in everyone ^_^
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