Actions, Rewards, Penalties or Why we do what we do.

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I do not think anyone can unerringly judge their motives thusly; we seem to agree on the issue of the influence of cultural experiences.

On that, I agree with you. My posts were not intended as a defense of conformity, as I merely wanted to include the concept of contingency into the debate. Most of us would choose what we think is right, however, our definition of 'right' will be heavily influenced - by the aforementioned family, friend base, and society most of all.

 

Aesop fable:
A man, his son and a mule were going into town. A man passed them by and said why aren't you riding the mule? The father hoisted his son up on the mule and they proceeded on. They passed a woman who exclaimed "You lazy boy riding while your poor father walks." So they changed places and went on. A young man came along "That looks like a strong mule why don't you both ride?"

So up on the poor mule they both got. Came a spot in the road where it crossed a ford. As they went across the mule slipped, broke its leg and had to be done away with. The man and boy survived with a few injuries but now had no mule.

Moral: You can't please everyone so please yourself. Don't worry about what others say if you are comfortable with what you do.

 

I heard a variation of this story involving a donkey. The moral was:

Spoiler

If you try to please everyone you'll eventually lose your ASS!

 

I like your version better.