The impulse toward treating others as things, directly (in the form of slavery) and indirectly (when we view people as means to an end or as ways to get needs met), is one of the greatest sources of evil behavior.
Entitlement--the belief that you should benefit from rights, institutions, or other benefits you would deny to others--deprives those others of the full participation in the civil systems you construct, disenfranchises others, and leads to harm.
When we hold entire groups or classes of people responsible for the transgressions of individuals, we plant the seeds for harmful, destructive stereotypes.
The deliberate infliction of suffering on another person to achieve some end invariably corrupts that end. It is not reliable as a means of obtaining information, and when used as punishment for a transgression, reduces the torturer to the level of barbarity of the transgressor.
This is the foundation of scientific study: Not searching to prove your hypothesis right, but asking how it can be proven wrong. Of course, I could be wrong too.
Psychology shows that trust inspires good behaviour, and positive actions inspire more of the same. Choosing positive action is not only ethical, but comes with its own rewards. See: iterated game theory, 'default to cooperate' strategy. Zimbardo 'banality of heroism'.
Compassion = considering what the other person wants and treating them accordingly. Choosing to help, rather than hurt or ignore those in trouble, or with less power than oneself. NB. If you haven't asked what the other person wants, you can't treat them compassionately.
The deliberate infliction of suffering on another person to achieve some end invariably corrupts that end. It is not reliable as a means of obtaining information, and when used as punishment for a transgression, reduces the torturer to the level of barbarity of the transgressor.
When we hold entire groups or classes of people responsible for the transgressions of individuals, we plant the seeds for harmful, destructive stereotypes.
Entitlement--the belief that you should benefit from rights, institutions, or other benefits you would deny to others--deprives those others of the full participation in the civil systems you construct, disenfranchises others, and leads to harm.
The impulse toward treating others as things, directly (in the form of slavery) and indirectly (when we view people as means to an end or as ways to get needs met), is one of the greatest sources of evil behavior.