Recommended reading: The Good Outnumber You; Are we naturally good or bad?; The Bonobo in All of Us. I think it's more complex than 'good' and 'evil.' I prefer the alternative dichotomy of individualism versus collectivism. As a species, we must have a selfish instinct. No individual can survive without it. But, as we all know, selfishness is 'bad.' Except it isn't. Placing the individual above the group is bad. We are social animals. Because evolution figured out that we accomplish more by working together, than being alone. Hence, we all also have a collective drive. A desire to care for others, and even put their needs above our own. I think the classic 'good' and 'evil' can be reformulated as a battle between selfishness and charity, which rages within us all. I don't think anyone is bad. That's the wrong way to look at it. People are broken. For whatever reason – nature or nurture – some people put their selfish instinct above their charity instinct. Most people, even. But to paraphrase Oswalt, enough people are charitable that we have civilisation. For all his complaining, your hypothetical individual probably lives in one of the most equitable, one of the least violent societies in the history of any species, with food and shelter and transportation and incredible health. Those things didn't magically appear. They were created by individuals within our social species. You can't make people 'good.' All you can do is be charitable yourself; build, rather than destroy; and use your life to make humanity better in some small way. Convincing people is hard. You can do whatever you want. But I'm going to create.people are inheritently awful beings
How do you convince the guy otherwise?
And let him jump? What if the guy's convinced that his actions won't have any impact on the world? Learned helplessness, perhaps. Maybe he'll try and even persevere once he has the momentum, but right now, he has none. Will you convince him otherwise? why? how?Convincing people is hard. You can do whatever you want. But I'm going to create.
build, rather than destroy; and use your life to make humanity better in some small way.
"The world" in this context is really "other humans". If you can't imagine any way you can make even one other life better in some way, then you really haven't thought about it enough. It is through these small acts of kindness that the world is transformed - as rob05c said above - it's how we made civilisation in the first place.
Everyone's gonna die. But if you do something to make someone's life better, there's a good chance that they will do the same, before they die. That ripple can extend to infinity, to a kind of immortality, and it's the only way we can build the Star Trek future that we all want. You don't have to do it - but you can. [edit] I am reminded by this of a wonderful quote from Harry S. Truman : "It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit."
No; I meant, I'm not really going to try to convince you. Of course I'd try to keep someone healthy from committing suicide. The vast majority of suicidal reasons are transient. But I'm not a counselor. If I didn't know the person, I'd try to get them help. If I did, I'd do everything I could as a friend, and still try to get them help from a professional. I gave you the logical argument. You're asking for social and persuasive skills now. I am gifted with neither. Sorry.Convincing people is hard.
And let him jump?
What if the guy's convinced that his actions won't have any impact on the world…Will you convince him otherwise? why? how?
No, I'm asking for your opinion on the situation, and how you'd act. You've already told me what you'd do for suicidal thoughts. Will you do anything towards the feeling of helplessness, of powerlessness? Whether you will, why?You're asking for social and persuasive skills now.