I understand, and in most cases agree with your estimation of the human species: most of the time we do things based upon a "selfish" reasoning. But I don't think that is always the case. I think there are rare moments in a lifetime that are truly selfless. I can think of times that I have done things that have been selfless... good deeds towards totally random people, that I will never ever see again. What could I possibly gain from such an encounter? (Other than a good feeling I suppose, but that was not the motivator in the specific instance I have in mind.)

Perhaps in the end, I do good things because I have the selfish motivation of wanting to be a decent human being?

I think there is something deeper that you are hitting upon here Cahlen. The one flaw I see in your logic, is that you make the assumption that an act of selflessness must stand in stark contrast to something which benefits oneself. Rather, I think the key is in the motivation to such actions. It just happens to be the result, that when you help others, you tend to benefit in one way or another :)

Now, you've gone and brought up the topic of right and wrong. I suppose this is a question everyone comes to in their lives, and from what I've seen, this isn't a question that can be answered by pure logic. Perhaps there is a <gasp> spiritual element involved here? Too often, I think, people make the mistake of assuming that if something cannot be proven, it thus must be false, or non-existant.

I hope talking about this stuff isn't a defensive, pissed off kind of thing for you Cahlen. It isn't for me. I enjoy the mental acrobatics :) (In point of fact, this is one of the reasons I fell for Jenny, but I suppose that is another story for another time... don't take that to mean that I'm falling in love with you though buddy. Jeez, you have a dirty mind.)