[threeonefour]

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People don't actually act altruistic, rather their Utility function factors in the utility of other people and thus often increase other people's utility in an effort to maximize their own.

[/ QUOTE ] I agree with the rest, at least the parts that I have an opinion on, just want to nitpick this. This is a very popular notion now a days. However I think this model is possibly flawed. Maximizing might only be one rational strategy of the larger set of strategies encompassed by avoiding actions that produce a negative utility. Rational people don't harm themselves. This definition of rational might produce a better model of human behavior. I'm not sold yet.

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yea that may very well be a better model for human behavior. i don't think it is the ideal strategy though, so there is reason to have both models around. IE a corporation should probably attempt to have its behavior conform to a utility maximizing model rather than a "first, do no harm" model.