Dr. Nayef Al-Rodhan

פורסם: 22.02.12, 9:59 pm

Field of reference: Sociology, History, Psychology

Description: Humans egoistic based nature  leads to destructive desires at the expense of others and according to our human history we will not be capable of prosperity if our nature is not held in check

" A predominant part of human nature is driven by basic survival instincts that ensure the satisfaction of basic needs such as food, shelter, and personal safety. Greed, however, may lead to excess. While we recognize that ego can lead to the pursuit of power and drive the desire for achievement, we add a number of other possible consequences of ego, depicted in the diagram. First, ego can lead to the desire to dominate others or to exercise hegemony. Second, it can also lead to a belief in one’s own exceptionalism. Third, it is behind the need for belonging and the need for a positive identity, since both imply being recognized as an individual of worth. Ego can also result in cultural arrogance when it is fed by notions of superiority."   The fulfillment of basic needs, the requirements of ego, and the assuagement of fear all form part of human nature. Under certain conditions each of these facets may lead to any combination of greed, aggression, dominance, occupation, the pursuit of power, a belief in exceptionalism, cultural arrogance, alliances, the search for a sense of belonging, and the need for a positive self-definition. Given these various innate survival instincts and drivers of behavior, we should be under no illusions about the possibility of morality in the absence an overarching institutional framework capable of guaranteeing security and mitigating against excesses related to the fulfillment of ego and basic needs. It is clear from human history that human beings cannot prosper in an ungoverned state of nature." 

Link to article


שייך לנושאים: 1-13 - חינוך אינטגרלי, -מקורות מדעיים, התפתחות האגו, 3. קנאה וכבוד
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Dr. Erzo F. P. Luttmer

פורסם: 22.02.12, 9:57 pm

Field of reference: Psychology, Sociology, Economy

Description: Research showing that happiness and well being is relative to our neighbours income

"This paper provides evidence that suggests that utility depends in part on relative position. The paper’s findings indicate that interpersonal preferences that incorporate relative income concerns drive the negative association between neighbors’ earnings and own well-being."

Link to article


שייך לנושאים: 1-13 - חינוך אינטגרלי, -מקורות מדעיים, התפתחות האגו, 3. קנאה וכבוד
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John Stuart Mill

פורסם: 22.02.12, 9:55 pm

Field of reference: Philosophy, psychology, sociology

"Men do not desire merely to be rich, but to be richer than other men."

Link to article


שייך לנושאים: 1-13 - חינוך אינטגרלי, -מקורות מדעיים, התפתחות האגו, 3. קנאה וכבוד
להשאיר תגובה |

Field of reference: Psychology

Description: Human desires such as wealth and acquisition conform to relative happiness. Basic animal desires such as food conform to absolute happiness

"A central question in consumer and happiness research is whether happiness depends on absolute or relative levels of wealth and consumption. To address this question, the authors evaluate a finer level than overall happiness and distinguish three specific types of happiness: with money, with the acquisition of an item, and with the consumption of an item. They find that happiness with money and with acquisition is relative and that happiness with consumption can be either absolute or relative, depending on whether the consumption is inherently evaluable or not.In general, laypeople assume that happiness depends on absolute wealth and absolute consumption levels. Behavioral researchers have drawn a more realistic picture by arguing that happiness depends primarily on relative wealth and relative consumption levels. In this article, we draw an even more realistic picture by demonstrating that each view is correct under predictable circumstances. We believe that if attention is focused on consumption rather than on money or goods and if wealth is invested in improving inherently evaluable consumption rather than inherently inevaluable consumption, raising wealth from one generation to the next will make the new generation absolutely happier."

Link to academic paper


שייך לנושאים: 1-13 - חינוך אינטגרלי, -מקורות מדעיים, התפתחות האגו, 3. קנאה וכבוד
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Dr. David H. Maister

פורסם: 21.02.12, 12:34 pm

Field of reference: Economics

Description: Envy plays a central role in motivating CEOs, academicians etc.

"CEOs with obscene paypackets are unhappy until they have matched what is considered "normal" among other CEOs. Lawyers from modest beginnings, making more than a million dollars a year or more, can get depressed and resentful because they are not earning what investment bankers earn.The issue is not just about money, but many forms of the world's rewards and recognitions. Academics and other authors can be (and are) jealous the (non-monetary) respect and recognition that is accorded to their (perceived) competitors' work. Socially, in their personal lives, people are always playing the game of "keeping up with the Jones':" being content with what they've got, until their neighbor has more.We concluded from this research that among economics majors in the lab and hunter-gatherers in the forest, contributing to the success of a joint project for the benefit of one's group, even at a personal cost, evokes feelings of satisfaction and pride. Failing to do so is often a source of shame or guilt. Cooperation thus is sustained by altruistic motivations that induce people to help others when not helping would result in their having higher fitness or other material rewards."

Link to article


שייך לנושאים: 1-13 - חינוך אינטגרלי, -מקורות מדעיים, התפתחות האגו, 3. קנאה וכבוד
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