Letter: We are more complicated than politicians and scientists think
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Colin Tudge treats the market system and overriding selfishness as indivisible. He fails to recognise that those who advocate market mechanisms have a more thorough appreciation of human nature. When we say that the decisions and actions of the individual must be rewarded he assumes the reward must be material; this is his imputation. What is necessary for any organisation, including society at large, to work is that the individual who makes the decision to act in a certain way must see the fruits of his or her action. That may be a material gain but it could equally be the satisfaction of a job well done, the respect of fellow human beings, or the simple joy of seeing the happiness of another individual. The collectivist, centralised approach fails because it provides no reward that can be recognised as attributable to the individual, or a coherent group with which the individual identifies.
Mr Tudge and your readers may care to examine the works of A H Maslow on this subject. He hypothesises that all actions are motivated by the desire to fulfil needs; the most basic may be material, but the higher level needs encompass all types of social functionality, including the respect of one's peers.
Mr Tudge may like to ponder whether in writing his article he would have been as motivated if the editor had intended to publish without attribution even if the same fee had been offered. Is he that selfless?
Keith Homer
Birmingham
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments