Q:

“Sometimes the inspiring power of goodness of people comes in response to tragedy. The capacity to forgive has its roots in the importance that evolution has placed on relationships.” This quote stood out to me because it is such an interesting perspective. I agree with the quote with the understanding that Wilkinson is referring to people who didm’t endure the tragedy. Outsiders do tend to do nice things for people who experience loss, hurt, and struggle. This is when we see people come together and try to make things easier for the person who endured the tragedy. On the other hand, those who experience the tragedy are definitely unlikely to be good. They may lash out because of their emotions, as this is a frequent occurrence.

C:

The quote does point out a very true statement, that people will likely be nicer when someone endures a tragedy. When someone loses a loved one, people may send flowers or condolences and just treat that person better overall. Whether this is because we feel badly and societal expectations say we should, or because humans genuinely want to do good by this person, it’s hard to say. We may feel guilty for doing nothing for that person, and decide to do something nice. However it is possible, that tragedy can bring out the best in people, and maybe inspire them to do good even when there is no tragedy.

Q:

How can we understand what causes us to be good? Can anyone be genuinely altruistic without a reason behind it?