2007-03-21 06:22:10 · 11 answers · asked by lazydazy 4 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
self preservation we dont like dying it reduces chances of finding love and being happy
2007-03-21 06:25:50 · answer #1 · answered by ladyluck 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Consider this scenario -- imagine that you are faced with a choice: either you or someone you really love (child, parent, etc.) will be tortured and killed by a deranged lunatic (as opposed to a garden-variety lunatic). Would you sacrifice yourself to save the one you love? Most people would probably respond "yes", and this shows that love is stronger than self-preservation.
BUT this doesn't really answer your question about what our FIRST instinct is. A young child might not fully appreciate or know what love is, so the default instinct would be to preserve one's self (especially if you were in the middle of being tortured). So while love may be a stronger instinct, it is a more sophisticated/learned instinct when compared to self-preservation. Those who don't know what love is, then, may choose self-preservation -- so in this sense, self-preservation is our first instinct.
2007-03-21 06:32:39 · answer #2 · answered by no_good_names_left_17 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Always self-preservation. And don't be deceived by the love/happiness thing. People that love others and make huge sacrifices feel good about doing it. Ones own happiness is also achieved in loving another.
2007-03-21 07:10:43 · answer #3 · answered by stedyedy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thomas Hobbs, an English philosopher, made this question the center-piece of his philosophy. He said that all actions we take are for self preservation. Our very ethics is based upon it. This is the reasons that we marry, the reason that communities/nations were formed, etc. etc. etc.
While it is our first instinct, it is driven by something much more basic. Fear....Fear is ingrained in us from birth. One of the fears is self preservance....others are acceptance, happiness, the future, etc. etc.
2007-03-21 06:53:28 · answer #4 · answered by scotishbob 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Happiness and self preservation. Humans are too self centred to ever put something as selfless as love first!
2007-03-21 06:47:31 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it is self preservation. Otherwise why would we strive to survive when inevitably we will die. However, for some after years and years of rejection,unhappiness, or neglect, or abuse and atrocious treatments etc.... self-preservation can become unimportant to those who wish to die or become suicidal.
2007-03-21 06:28:26 · answer #6 · answered by gerber baby 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Man's first instinct must be slelf preservation because without that nothing else is possible.
2007-03-21 06:58:20 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
self preservation I am sure.
2007-03-21 06:28:09 · answer #8 · answered by Tom W 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
self preservation that is what keeps you alive
2007-03-21 10:18:05 · answer #9 · answered by andrew w 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are on your own, self preservation.
If you have somebody to love, then that changes.
2007-03-21 06:53:35 · answer #10 · answered by Mighty C 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋