Class Video: "Evolution explains kindness--even when it kills us | Paul Bloom"

 Video link: Evolution explains kindness--even when it kills us | Paul Bloom


This video prompted me to consider why I exercise kindness. If I were to answer this question literally, I would say it's because my parents and school teachers taught me that we're supposed to be kind. But if I want to answer it more deeply, I'd say it's because I genuinely believe that all human beings (and plants and animals, too) deserve kindness. I think about how I feel when I'm not treated kindly and I know it makes me feel like shit so I would never want to make someone else feel that way. If I was lost in an unfamiliar city I would want someone to help me with directions so I'm going to do the same for others. If I was too scared to watch a scary movie then I'd want someone to watch it with so I'll be that person for someone else, too. If I tripped and fell and bloodied up my knees then I'd need someone to help me patch it up so I should go out of my way to help others, too.

Additionally, I'd say that kindness is vital for our survival. Like Paul Bloom said, kindness is a part of our evolution. A society that revolves around an "every man for himself"-type ideology won't prosper. We're here to protect each other.

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