I wholeheartedly agree with the statement that two essential forces that motivate people are self-interest and fear. Self-interest translates into self-preservation, which is the strongest urge of human beings. Fear manifests itself in everyday living because of rampant commercialism in society. Therefore, it cannot be said that anyone acts out of truly altruistic motives.
All individuals seek to maximize their own pleasure and minimize pain. Only a masochist does otherwise. And it can even be argued that a masochist is actually seeking pleasure because to this individual pain is pleasure. Maximizing one's own pleasure should not be considered selfish; it only becomes selfish when the individual asserts his or her own will above others.
Even the most unselfish actions can be traced to selfish motives. An example is the maternal instinct, which is one of the most prevalent in humanity. Mothers are famous for sacrificing their own well-being for the welfare of their children. But is this action truly unselfish? A mother whose child suffers often experiences more grief and anguish than the child itself. The mother feels helpless and this contributes to her psychic pain. By relieving the child from suffering the mother likewise relieves her own pain and suffering because the mother can only be truly happy when the child is happy. Thus the actions of the mother to ensure the child's welfare are at least partially the result of selfish motives.
Prior to the Industrial Revolution, the majority of people who had large families did so out of self-interest. Most people worked and lived on farms. Children were essential for helping with the maintenance of these agri-businesses. In addition, children were a form of social security; they were expected to care for their parents in their old age. Even today, children are expected to perform this function albeit some neglect the obligation and place their elderly parents ...