I hear a lot of people say, "So and so deserves that (enter random item here)." But is anyone really entitled to anything? Is anyone really "owed" anything just for being a good person or doing a good deed?
In other words, where do people get this sense of entitlement?
2007-01-25 07:53:24 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
'Deserving' something is an interesting concept. If you think about it, when someone says that something is deserved or not deserved, they are talking about an expected outcome.
The interesting thing about this expected outcome is subtly implied in the kinds of statements involved. If someone 'deserves' something, then the implication is that they might not get it. Nobody talks about whether someone deserves to have the sun come up tomorrow, but they may talk about whether someone deserves to win the lottery.
So a discussion about what someone deserves is actually talking about what should but might not happen. Another way of describing this is 'justice'. If someone gets what they deserve, then things in the universe are fair. At least as far as the observer is concerned.
This is another fine point - what exactly counts as fair depends a lot on values. And values quite obviously vary from person to person. Still, there are a few very common ones that we can see rather frequently. A person who works hard supposedly deserves to get a reward for it. Someone who is foolish supposedly deserves to be punished.
Thus the entitlement, and also a lot of differences in people about what is deserved and what not. Some people, for example, believe that everyone deserves to have basic medical care, while others feel that some people should not. Some believe that convicted criminals deserve the kind of suffering they inflict on others, while others think they deserve assistance to change their life.
Values (what should happen) and perception (what is happening). That's where it all comes from.
2007-01-25 09:36:50 · answer #1 · answered by Doctor Why 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
entitlement comes from a fear of death...expecting a payback for a good deed is both the most optimistic and hopeful thing a person can do, in anticipation of some future reward, or the most cynical and self-serving action possible, if to stave off some perception of deserved punishment. The glass is half empty and half full, but better to see the fullness than to emphasize the emptyness.
a second cause is emptyheadedness. individuals get their empty heads stuffed with the idea that they deserve the wealth they lucked into, because of their moral superiority, as a reward ( a tenet of calvanistic thought and the new religious right's fallacy that prosperity is christ's reward to the pious). These concepts have long been used by hypocrites to justify their disinterest in lifting others up, because if one 'deserves' wealth, the other 'deserves' poverty. So screw them, i'm rich.
positive self worth easily devolves into entitlement, with unflattering results.
2007-01-25 08:09:37 · answer #2 · answered by mars 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think some of it comes form, and I am so sorry to say this, the "everyone is a winner" line of thinking that was, and may still be popular, in schools in the 90's. If you teach children that they all deserve to win just for trying, well, what lesson are you really teaching them?
Also, a lot has to do with, well this is gonna sound cliche, but let me go ahead, the media. You see images of wealth and affluence everywhere, but you never see what earned it. Television gives us kids with cell phones, credit cards and parents that are, well, stupid! Kids running the home and making choices for parents.
And then there's just plain "entitlement" issues. If I work, I deserve to be highly paid, because I work, etc.
There isn't one pat answer to your question...I'm sure [people who study philosophy, psychology or any of the social sciences will sight a dozen more reason, and every one of them will be true.
2007-01-25 08:10:48 · answer #3 · answered by aidan402 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Religion, plain and simple. Religion is what tells people that if you are a good person and you do good things and believe in God then you are going to heaven and will live forever in eternal happiness. Ummmmmm WHY? If you look at tribes that live in the forst and watch them and listen you will see that they do not say such things and do things to make some god happy. They do what they need to do to survive. But if you look at anyone who associates with an organized religion you see the things you are talking about. It is a fear of getting nothing when you die. We don't deserve anything unless we earn it.
2007-01-25 09:42:11 · answer #4 · answered by Satan 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have been known to say this I must confess. I think people say it just like you said because they did something good. When we achieve something, we think we deserve praise for a job well done. Also, when we do things for people, we think we deserve grattiude and blessings. Just another way that people are greedy and selfish, always wanting something in return. Good question though, made me think.
2007-01-25 08:02:55 · answer #5 · answered by maceysiller 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
sometimes people think they deserve ___ because theyve worked hard to earn it.
2007-01-25 08:21:15 · answer #6 · answered by Meeowf 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, when we have done all we could, we have only done what we should have done, and so there is no merit in doing what we should do anyway.
2007-01-25 08:52:16 · answer #7 · answered by 1977LesPaul 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
our society teaches that crap
2007-01-25 10:27:31 · answer #8 · answered by free 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
BeCaUsE oF mY ****!
2007-01-25 08:03:43 · answer #9 · answered by Lucky 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋