Every human action is motivated by self interest

Thank you for taking this debate . It`s a very complicated subject . Not something easy to argue , pro or con . Also I must say this is my very first debate . I will start with the school example and prove you that either if they go willingly , or don't go willingly , or even if they don`t go to school at all they still seek what they see as their own interest . We must split the students into 2 groups . The ones that understand what school means and the benefits it provides and the ones who don`t understand or who understand but still do not attend to it . The first group would fit into the "real interest" paragraph . I guess we agree on that . For the second group we assume that they are the ones who would prefer not to go to school . you stated that one of the reasons is because they find it boring . Being bored is not something any human being desires , its unpleasant and not something of interest , not something they see as "well-being" . So if you don't get that school is for your own interest of course you will not attend to it if you had the choice . Because your mind thinks its rather bad for you . Yet , a lot of the students from the second group still go to school . You said they do it so their parents would not be fined . You made this sound as an altruist action...the kid doesn't like it but still does it for the sake of his parents . Well , this is fake . They don't really care if their parents get fined or not , they care about what will happen if their parents get fined . Because it would be bad for them . Even if the parent would not inflict any harm on the kid for getting him fined , I don't think the kid would feel well . He will feel that he inflicted harm on his parents , something seen as "bad" by the society . In conclusion , the kid would feel bad . Feeling bad is against his own well being . To end this , I agree that some kids don't care at all about these things and simply don't go to school . They don`t perceive getting their parents fined as something bad so they don't feel bad about it .Own well-being not affected . So they just follow whatever they feel like , probably some "unreal/fake interest" . Next the beggar case . You stated few reasons why people would give money to beggars without seeking their own interest . Lets take them step by step : 1."It may be because someone told you to" - You don't do something a random person tells you to . Only if that someone is an authority or has some sort of influence on you , they will either force you to do it or convince you to , and not doing it would mean some sort of "retribution" , or "harming effect" on you (spiritual , moral...etc. not necessarily physical) . So you seek your own well-being and do it . 2."Religious people don't give then expect happiness or something else in return, they give because that's what they're accustomed to." - let me ask you something , why is a religious man respecting the word of god(whoever he might be) ? Two reasons : divine retribution or divine reward . Hell or heaven . You respect the 10 commandments because god is real in your mind . And by respecting the 10 commandments you think you seek your own well-being , since you believe you will end up in heaven . Its "fake interest" if you help a beggar because of your religion. Next , to the army example : "You shouldn't be fighting in order to get love? There's 100's of other ways to gain love and respect from people, they should go find some other ways of doing it." Reality is something we all see differently , it`s relative . And that`s how some people see it ,how their subconscious sees , they see fighting for their country as something full of honor , as something wonderful . And overall it makes them feel good , even dying for it . They feel they are accomplishing something . So , aware or not , they actually seek what they see as their own well-being . Again just "fake interest". And for your final point : "I didn't help the beggar so I would feel better, I did it because I cared about the well-being of OTHER people." - I will prove you this wrong in a different way . If there would be a capital punishment for giving money to beggars would you still help that guy ? You would not , your own well being is what matters most.(unless you see this as a surrogate for the "army" example , I that case you would probably go for it and die) PS. English is not my first language . I`m sorry if I make any mistakes . It`s hard to express such a twisted philosophical opinion in any other language but your native one .