A National Social System that Deters Individual Selfishness

I read in a newspaper recently that dogs belonging to farming families living near the Amazon rainforest sneak out of their homes when their owners go to work, gather in packs with other neighborhood dogs, and head into the forest to kill wild animals (or, more accurately, to play with them). They then return home before their owners arrive and greet them as if nothing had happened. The problem is that these dogs are causing wildlife to disappear, and it’s said that cameras now capture more images of packs of dogs than of wild animals. It’s considered a serious issue, as the closer farmhouses are to the rainforest, the more wildlife is disappearing. However, the owners firmly believe that it’s not their own dogs but their neighbors' that are responsible, so there’s no solution.

Related to this are the dog-bite incidents we often see in Korean newspapers, yet people believe that their own dogs are gentle and would never harm anyone. People are often lenient when it comes to their own possessions and personal matters. In fact, if my own dog caused an accident that led to a death, could I bring it to justice? I think it would be difficult. This is the difference between a subjective perspective and objectivity. Since everyone has their own subjective viewpoint and emotions, it becomes a different story when it involves them personally.

Another example is that organ transplants are prohibited by law, but if my child or I were to die because we couldn’t receive a transplant, I’d probably be tempted to do it illegally. Rather than seeing my child struggle to make a living because they can’t find a job, isn’t it every parent’s wish—even knowing it’s wrong—to use underhanded methods to boost their credentials and send them to a prestigious university or a good company, if only they could? We get angry when we see others doing it, but if it were our own situation and the opportunity arose, we’d probably want to do it too.

However, the society we live in isn’t governed by our individual subjective emotions. This is because my actions can lead to others' sacrifice. Therefore, the more developed a society is, the more its members strive to think rationally and logically rather than acting on their emotions. In highly developed countries, legal and social systems are well established: while recognizing individual freedom, they deter selfish behavior that forces others to sacrifice.

Violations are met with severe “consequences.” From a young age, we’re taught that there are “consequences” for our wrongdoings. And there are strict “laws.” For example, if my dog bites someone, I must pay the price. It may even have to be put down. That’s why people spend money on training their dogs and take extra care with them.

Furthermore, the social system is well-established. For example, in the recent scandal involving the children of celebrities who were admitted to prestigious universities through illegal or underhanded means, the FBI investigated the case for a year, ensuring no one could escape accountability. Not only were legal actions taken, but the company CEOs also lost their positions due to the social fallout.

When I read newspaper articles about dog-bite incidents and dogs in the Amazon, I find it unfortunate that people's personal views, emotions, claims, and limited thinking are directly imposed on society. It appears that the legal and social systems needed to manage this are not yet well-developed.

Although the economy has grown quickly, the development of legal and social systems appears to be slower. Nonetheless, the progress in building these systems is significant. But these issues should be included in public discussion and treated systematically.

01/18/2020 by Dr. Lan Joo