(March 22, 2012 at 11:59 am)genkaus Wrote: The term "selfish altruism" is oxymoronic. Actually, it's just moronic.
An action is selfish if the primary motivation for it is welfare of oneself. It is altruistic if the primary motivation is the welfare of others. By definition, it cannot be both at the same time.
If the primary motivation of the mother is fulfilling her own needs and carrying the baby happens to be a way to do it, then the action is selfish, not altruistic.
Then the term altruism is wrong. No human behavior is selfless there is always a motive.
