Word of the Week #409:
You know, I hate utilitarianism. Always have, always will.
Every time in the past I’ve had a discussion with someone about utilitarianism, I have just had a strangely distasteful feeling in my head, but I hadn’t fully unraveled it till I read something while working on an anthropology project: Human behaviour is DEFINED BY non-utilitarian behaviour!
Art, symbolism, rituals, aesthetics, personal adornments—these are the things that define humans and have contributed immensely to the continuation of human evolution and the establishment of human civilisation.
We are defined by our ability to be driven by complex feelings, beyond the fundament utilitarian instincts of “survive and breed”.
Utilitarian behaviour may work well for amoebae… They don’t need to fall in love or create art or seek individual attainment…
For humans, feelings are good.
Keep doing what make you feel good about yourself. You will probably be fine.
