Are humans made to always want more?

[Cicero]

It's a serious question. Are humans always wanting more, more food, more money, more everything? Can humans ever achieve the ability of being content with what they have or will they eventually fall victim for wanting more?

[CharlieHorse]

It is possible to be without any want.
Try Buddhism :D

[HexedDex]

Not all but humans are as we've seen "conquering species". We advance and have a lust for more because we can. We want to get to a peek and have life perfect and happy. Once again though we have freedom of thought and not all of us want more.

[CoolKid97]

People are greedy. Luckily some people aren't. Im grateful for what I have.

[TheBigUnit]

Its human nature, survival of the fittest, those who didn't take advantage of their surrounds eventually died off

[Nellerin]

It's a serious question. Are humans always wanting more, more food, more money, more everything? Can humans ever achieve the ability of being content with what they have or will they eventually fall victim for wanting more?

You are mistaken. You are talking about Americans, not all humans. Do you even remotely understand anything about how other "less fortunate" countries are?

You think people in Liberia are trying to become rich, no they are trying to not die.

Greed is a very Western thing so obviously it is not some human principle. Not to mention there are millions of people in religions like Buddhism that completely go against any sort of greed.

[Cicero]

You are mistaken. You are talking about Americans, not all humans. Do you even remotely understand anything about how other "less fortunate" countries are?

You think people in Liberia are trying to become rich, no they are trying to not die.

Greed is a very Western thing so obviously it is not some human principle. Not to mention there are millions of people in religions like Buddhism that completely go against any sort of greed.

No, not just Americans. Germans, Italians, British, etc.

[Nellerin]

No, not just Americans. Germans, Italians, British, etc.

Did I not just saw "Western" idea haha, last time I checked, Europeans are western.

America just shows it more that they do so I used that as my main example.

[Gigablue]

Humans are hard wired to want everything. We evolved in conditions where everything was scarce, so it payed to be greedy. Now, even though we have the necessities of life, our instincts still tell us to want more.

I think it is possible to be satisfied with what you have, but it's very had. We naturally want more, so you have to suppress a natural urge.

[workingatperfect]

Did I not just saw "Western" idea haha, last time I checked, Europeans are western.

America just shows it more that they do so I used that as my main example.

So Asians can't be greedy?

And I disagree, those people in, as you said, less fortunate countries, do want something, it's just that their expectations are lower. They want food, clean water, nicer clothes, better houses, better health, etc. You think they're content with being so unfortunate? Definitely not.

To answer the question, yes, it is human nature. You will always want more. You may be happy with your life, but I think there will always be the thought in the back of your mind that you could be a little happier, if only you had this or that.

[IAMWILL]

The more you have, the more likely you are to survive. Basic human instinct. Albeit, thats putting it extremely generally.

[ProudConservative]

Did Henry Ford stop at the Model T, no. Did George Lucas stop after he made the Star Wars Trilogy, no. Did J.K. Rowling stop after H.P. 1, no. Did Steve Jobs stop after he made the Apple 1, no. People will always want more, and want to be more innovative. It's a part of nature. Cavemen made fire, made it in the middle of a forest one night and burned it down, so they put a ring of rocks around the fire to stop it from spreading.

[Guillermo]

So Asians can't be greedy?

He never said that they couldn't. The term "Western" is a cultural term that has mostly come to mean the U.S, Canada, Western Europe, Australia, New Zealand and arguably Japan. Most of Asia would fall under the East.

You think they're content with being so unfortunate? Definitely not.

What you see as unfortunate may be a deception because of how its portrayed in Western media. Have you ever read The Glass Castle? Turned my view on how people in modern, developed countries look at people in under developed countries. The family depicted in the book were poor as dirt and still content. What we ("Western" countries) see as "unfortunate" may in fact be a fulfilling and happy life for some.

[Jean Poutine]

You are mistaken. You are talking about Americans, not all humans. Do you even remotely understand anything about how other "less fortunate" countries are?

You think people in Liberia are trying to become rich, no they are trying to not die.

Greed is a very Western thing so obviously it is not some human principle. Not to mention there are millions of people in religions like Buddhism that completely go against any sort of greed.

Given the income disparity in Africa I would hesitate before saying greed is a white/European thing.

Those who can, are greedy. Period.

[Nellerin]

Given the income disparity in Africa I would hesitate before saying greed is a white/European thing.

Those who can, are greedy. Period.

OK, I agree half way. As you will see in this Washington State University document about Greed, it is both a biological thing and even more strongly a social thing.

One quote which stands out from the WSU document is "The desire for wealth is especially apparent in those cultures descended from or adhering to the Western European tradition of "progress" and "growth"

While ALL people exhibit some "need" for more, greed is definitely more prevalent due to Western culture, and the social side of greed arose in the West.

Link to WSU doc: http://public.wsu.edu/~taflinge/socgreed.html

[Prodigy17]

One quote which stands out from the WSU document is "The desire for wealth is especially apparent in those cultures descended from or adhering to the Western European tradition of "progress" and "growth"

Not so true any more. Look at the former Soviet Union, clearly these people had no opportunity for wealth under communist rule. Now there are opportunities Russians have become very successful in business and thus very wealthy. The most successful Rolls Royce dealership in the world is in Moscow, not London, New York or Beverly Hills where you might expect.

Also the richest man in UK is an Indian again not a country that adheres to Western European standards. The richest man in the world is a Mexican, again a very poor country.

Desire for welth is in all of us regardless of background - white, black, Asian, Western etc. Only difference is some don't have the opportunity to pursue it

[Nellerin]

Not so true any more. Look at the former Soviet Union, clearly these people had no opportunity for wealth under communist rule. Now there are opportunities Russians have become very successful in business and thus very wealthy. The most successful Rolls Royce dealership in the world is in Moscow, not London, New York or Beverly Hills where you might expect.

Also the richest man in UK is an Indian again not a country that adheres to Western European standards. The richest man in the world is a Mexican, again a very poor country.

Desire for welth is in all of us regardless of background - white, black, Asian, Western etc. Only difference is some don't have the opportunity to pursue it

Are you not understanding my point, greed ORIGINATED in the west and therefore countries that have tried to "westernize" have taken greed as part of their ideals.

Any country that tries to westernize and modernize creates more and more greed. But those ideals originated in the west.

We are a global society now, very few ideals and products are not seen in all countries at this point, but we in the west are the main reason that has happened.

[Prodigy17]

Are you not understanding my point, greed ORIGINATED in the west and therefore countries that have tried to "westernize" have taken greed as part of their ideals.

I understand your point.

If you live in a communist country, eg former Soviet Union, doesn't matter what you want you can't be greedy because the economic system doesn't allow it. Under communism it was impossible for a Russian to say buy a Rolls Royce however much he might have wanted to.

The only reason that greed originated in the West is because the West WAS the only part of the world were one could be greedy. Obviously it isn't any more.

Greed starts within people not countries - regardless of West, East etc.

[Atonement]

I think the bigger question is if humans a "made" for everything.

I think greed and longing for more is very natural. We can always wish for more, but still be content with what we have. Or, we can be unhappy with that which we have and feel that we need more. I think the variation of what is "enough" for us to be happy is where the variance across cultures happens.

[Nellerin]

I understand your point.

If you live in a communist country, eg former Soviet Union, doesn't matter what you want you can't be greedy because the economic system doesn't allow it. Under communism it was impossible for a Russian to say buy a Rolls Royce however much he might have wanted to.

The only reason that greed originated in the West is because the West WAS the only part of the world were one could be greedy. Obviously it isn't any more.

Greed starts within people not countries - regardless of West, East etc.

Uhm, you do realize that the Soviet Union was recent correct? And western ideals started like 300-400 years ago, correct?

Has nothing at all to do with recent events like the Soviet Union. There wasn't even a thing called communism then.

[Prodigy17]

Uhm, you do realize that the Soviet Union was recent correct? And western ideals started like 300-400 years ago, correct?

Has nothing at all to do with recent events like the Soviet Union. There wasn't even a thing called communism then.

Not quite right. Communism started in Ancient Greece around 3000 years ago, well before the birth of Christ. It's not a recent thing by any measure.

[Nellerin]

Not quite right. Communism started in Ancient Greece around 3000 years ago, well before the birth of Christ. It's not a recent thing by any measure.

Communist wasn't even an idea until 1840 and Marxism/Communism was even more recent than that.

The founder of Communism specifically said that only hunter gatherer societies were "primitive communists" but barely resembled modern day communism at all.

[Prodigy17]

Communist wasn't even an idea until 1840 and Marxism/Communism was even more recent than that.

The founder of Communism specifically said that only hunter gatherer societies were "primitive communists" but barely resembled modern day communism at all.

Again not true. The name communism is fairly recent but the idea of what we now call communism - sharing property etc - was first detailed by Plato, ancient Greek philospher who died well before christ was born. If you're interested google Plato + communism

Communism as an idea is based on what does a man do when he can produce more than he needs to survive - does he share his "wealth" or does he keep it for himself and thus enjoy a better life than his peers.

If communism was only "invented" in 1840 that would mean man only learnt to produce more than he needs in 1840. Do you really think that's true :)

[Nellerin]

Again not true. The name communism is fairly recent but the idea of what we now call communism - sharing property etc - was first detailed by Plato, ancient Greek philospher who died well before christ was born. If you're interested google Plato + communism

Communism as an idea is based on what does a man do when he can produce more than he needs to survive - does he share his "wealth" or does he keep it for himself and thus enjoy a better life than his peers.

If communism was only "invented" in 1840 that would mean man only learnt to produce more than he needs in 1840. Do you really think that's true :)

Modern communism is completely different from Plato's. Please learn about Plato before bringing his ideas into the conversation.

Plato's theory is based on two postulates i.e.


That the government is necessary for any organized social life, and
That the function of government must be left to a small aristocracy of intellect and virtue.


Marxism believes in the slow 'withering away' of the state and therefore does not agree with the first postulate of Plato. It reverses the second postulate of Plato by substituting the dictatorship of the proletariat for the aristocracy of intellect. Plato's third class was not the proletariat because it included the capitalists as well as workers.

[Prodigy17]

Marxism believes in the slow 'withering away' of the state

Never happened though did it.

Communist countries developed bigger and bigger states (ie governments) to control their people. Thus their was an elite "ruling class" in say the USSR.

In fact the only way a man could have a good life in the USSR was to be part of the "ruling class" - they had houses/cars/food etc that was not available to the average man.

I agree this is not what Marx would have wanted - but it is what happened just as Plato envisaged.

[Nellerin]

Never happened though did it.

Communist countries developed bigger and bigger states (ie governments) to control their people. Thus their was an elite "ruling class" in say the USSR.

In fact the only way a man could have a good life in the USSR was to be part of the "ruling class" - they had houses/cars/food etc that was not available to the average man.

I agree this is not what Marx would have wanted - but it is what happened just as Plato envisaged.

Ya of course, everyone knows that Marxist ideals did not carry through to what actually happened.

This is completely sidetracked from the original debate though. The document about Greed which I provided (and you first responded to) came far after the USSR and was written very recently, so it takes into account things like Communism.

However, it still comes to the conclusion that the West is to blame for strong social greed.

[Prodigy17]

This is completely sidetracked from the original debate though. The document about Greed which I provided (and you first responded to) came far after the USSR and was written very recently, so it takes into account things like Communism.

However, it still comes to the conclusion that the West is to blame for strong social greed.

OK, I realise it's fashionable to blame the decadent West - especially the USA - for everything bad in the world.

Not entirely fair though. I mentioned communist Russia because a leading government official under communism would have had the best car, the biggest house etc the top officials even had special lanes on the road so they didn't get held up in traffic while they were driven along in their limos. This is greed just as much as a Wall Street banker paying himself millions a year and owning 3 Ferraris.

It's a basic human urge to want more than the next man - doesn't matter if you're communist in Russia or a Wall Street millionaire it's greed.

Obviously the disparity between what a ruler in say Russia could have and what the ruled could have eventually led to the pverthrow of communism. Thus a Russian had the same opportunity to be greedy as an American.

The west is not to blame for greed - people are.

[Nellerin]

OK, I realise it's fashionable to blame the decadent West - especially the USA - for everything bad in the world.

Not entirely fair though. I mentioned communist Russia because a leading government official under communism would have had the best car, the biggest house etc the top officials even had special lanes on the road so they didn't get held up in traffic while they were driven along in their limos. This is greed just as much as a Wall Street banker paying himself millions a year and owning 3 Ferraris.

It's a basic human urge to want more than the next man - doesn't matter if you're communist in Russia or a Wall Street millionaire it's greed.


Why do you have such a hard time understanding that it ORIGINATED in the west. The first civilizations to promote and have an issue with social greed were western civilizations. Once again it is the West's fault.

Even if you want to use Plato's "communism" it still supports my claim, since Plato WAS IN THE WEST.

[Harry Smith]

Just thought that I would drop by and say that the Native Americans show a very clear example of the what the native populace was like in america. They believed in living in harmony with not only animals but also with there environment. Yes they hunted to kill but they would always do it in a sustained way and make sure it was human. They lived in complete harmony with the planet, and in turn they only consumed a very small amount of natural resources.

[Prodigy17]

Why do you have such a hard time understanding that it ORIGINATED in the west.

Obviously because I don't agree with you - people do have different opinions ya know. Do you think that everything you say is automatically right and anyone who disagrees is wrong?

The first civilizations to promote and have an issue with social greed were western civilizations. Once again it is the West's fault.

If you'd understood what I wrote above you'd have seen that Russians under communism displayed greed just as much as westerners - can you honestly not see that?

If you want other examples look at some of the poorest Africans states where the people are literally starving. Do you think their rulers are starving to?

Robert Mugabe, ruler of one of the poorest countries in the world, is worth millions of dollars. Is it not greed to be a millionaire while your people are starving?

[Harry Smith]

Obviously because I don't agree with you - people do have different opinions ya know. Do you think that everything you say is automatically right and anyone who disagrees is wrong?



If you'd understood what I wrote above you'd have seen that Russians under communism displayed greed just as much as westerners - can you honestly not see that?

If you want other examples look at some of the poorest Africans states where the people are literally starving. Do you think their rulers are starving to?

Robert Mugabe, ruler of one of the poorest countries in the world, is worth millions of dollars. Is it not greed to be a millionaire while your people are starving?

I agree with your point about communism, in the case of Soviet Union it did not work in any way in regards to stopping greed. But I just wanted to say about Mugabe the country was very rich when the British were still there under Ian Smith in the 60's and 70's. And during that period there were no where near as much famine or poverty. And I know that for a fact due to my dad being born in Zimbabwe and living there for 12 years in the 60's

[Prodigy17]

Just thought that I would drop by and say that the Native Americans show a very clear example of the what the native populace was like in america. They believed in living in harmony with not only animals but also with there environment. Yes they hunted to kill but they would always do it in a sustained way and make sure it was human. They lived in complete harmony with the planet, and in turn they only consumed a very small amount of natural resources.

True - but that was the only way they knew. Also it didn't work out too well for them.

If you look at modern day native americans many of them have become wealthy by running casinos on their reservations. So they are greedy too just like the people who took their land :)

I agree with your point about communism, in the case of Soviet Union it did not work in any way in regards to stopping greed. But I just wanted to say about Mugabe the country was very rich when the British were still there under Ian Smith in the 60's and 70's. And during that period there were no where near as much famine or poverty.

Exactly right. Mugabe is obviously not a Westener but he has raped his country and starved his people while he's enriched himself. That's greed.

What he has done to his country and his people is far worse than anything a "greedy" Westener has done.

Merged double post. -Gigablue

[Nellerin]

Obviously because I don't agree with you - people do have different opinions ya know. Do you think that everything you say is automatically right and anyone who disagrees is wrong?



If you'd understood what I wrote above you'd have seen that Russians under communism displayed greed just as much as westerners - can you honestly not see that?



Of course I can see that, but communism in Russia did not even occur until hundreds of years after the West started becoming very greedy. Again ORIGIN. There's no disputing that greed SPREAD to Russia, it STARTED in the West.

[Harry Smith]

the first line nearly killed me mate, and yeah I agree about the casino's. An I know that the Tribes like the Iroquois and others fought each other for land so they they weren't truly content with what they had.

A really good example to go with this thread would be the book - The Lord of the Flies, about a group of boys stranded on an island and how they revert back to there primal instincts over time. Ends with a lot of them dead

Of course I can see that, but communism in Russia did not even occur until hundreds of years after the West started becoming very greedy. Again ORIGIN. There's no disputing that greed SPREAD to Russia, it STARTED in the West.

I will freely admit that the western world is greedy, heck the british raped india of all its wealth. However since we're looking at a earlier stage of History the divide between east and West gets blurred. You could argue that the Romans were greedy in nature, you could argue that the Homo-sapiens were greedy in nature when they first ruled the world. It is so hard to define when 'greed' started, hence why it is even harder to define who started it

Merged double post. -Gigablue

[Prodigy17]

Of course I can see that, but communism in Russia did not even occur until hundreds of years after the West started becoming very greedy. Again ORIGIN. There's no disputing that greed SPREAD to Russia, it STARTED in the West.

OK when did it start in the West - roughly?

I guarantee that whatever date range you state - pick any time between Plato and today - I will point out equivilant examples of greed outside the West.

[Nellerin]

I will freely admit that the western world is greedy, heck the british raped india of all its wealth. However since we're looking at a earlier stage of History the divide between east and West gets blurred. You could argue that the Romans were greedy in nature, you could argue that the Homo-sapiens were greedy in nature when they first ruled the world. It is so hard to define when 'greed' started, hence why it is even harder to define who started it

Ya, much like the article I provide, it is obvious that humans are greedy at their core. BUT the social side of greed becomes stronger and more prevalent mainly after it gets its start in the West.

[Human]

No. Humans have been brought up this way... if we were to remove money and power and go back to subsistence farming and gathering humans would be 'more normal' and less power hungry. I don't know if that makes sense really.

[Twilly F. Sniper]

Actually no. The birth of currency was the birth of greed.

[Prodigy17]

Actually no. The birth of currency was the birth of greed.

I'd suggest greed led to the birth of the currency.

Pre-currency all you could do was barter - I'l swap my ox for your horse and 2 of your chickens etc. That worked fine for non-greedy people who just wanted their basic day to day needs and no more.

If you're greedy the flaw with barter is you can't build up wealth so you need to invent a currency.

Greed led to the currency - the currency did not lead to greed.

No. Humans have been brought up this way... if we were to remove money and power and go back to subsistence farming and gathering humans would be 'more normal' and less power hungry. I don't know if that makes sense really.

It makes zero sense. If we went back to subsistence farming humans would invent the currency - just as they did many years ago.

[Human]

I'd suggest greed led to the birth of the currency.

Pre-currency all you could do was barter - I'l swap my ox for your horse and 2 of your chickens etc. That worked fine for non-greedy people who just wanted their basic day to day needs and no more.

If you're greedy the flaw with barter is you can't build up wealth so you need to invent a currency.

Greed led to the currency - the currency did not lead to greed.



It makes zero sense. If we went back to subsistence farming humans would invent the currency - just as they did many years ago.

Merged your post, try not to double post!
And fair enough. I just wanted to contribute.
But whatever, I don't think by nature it's possible for a whole race to be greedy.

[drew6]

As a race idk.
As an individual. I'm content.
It's like it's a trap because we can always find someone who has something who has more of what we want so i think it's easier to be content with what you have. Granted, my parents have a fair amount of money, BUT they purposely don't get me everything I want. I already have everything i need and then some.

when i get to thinking about really wanting something that i don't have, i step back and compare myself to how the majority of the world lives and quickly realize that whatever it is that want is just more icing on the cake.

Most people don't think that way, so i'd have to say that most people are wired to wanting more, but my parents have raised me to be content with what I do have and to be generous with it.

[ImCoolBeans]

All living beings will always desire more. Dogs will always want more food, bacteria will always want more organic matter to eat and plants will always want more sunlight; just as humans will always want more of whatever they happen to desire. It's not so much that we as a species are greedy -- it's more so that life itself comes with a great deal of desire and greed. It's the natural progression of life. Humans just so happen to desire material goods while other organisms do not.

[MrMundane]

I believe there is a hunger or drive in everyone to be more than what they came from or is. I believe this stems from our understanding of survival and the evolution of our minds as a species to know that to survive beyond the life of this planet we must always be reaching for more. So yes, I do think humans will always want more, however what is sought after is entirely up to the individual.

[dontfiguremeout]

Hmmm, that's actually a really interesting questions. I think it all depends on the persons back story. Like if someone actually experienced something so tragic in their lives, it could change how they view themselves and what they can do to become a different person, so their needs can increase. But I do see the need for wanting more in a lot of people for sure! I am guilty myself for wishing I had more too, but once in a while I still need to do that reality check appreciating what I have. And you'll get that one or two people who actually out of the goodness of their heart don't want anything more because that's just who they are.
PS:I was tired when I wrote this, so this could sound really mumbo jumbo to some of you!