Archive · 16 Sep 2025
New Book Explores Ethics and Cooperation Dilemmas
This book explores the debate about whether people are mostly selfish or care about others.
Some people believe we should prepare students for a selfish world, while others believe in the potential for a better world.
The book talks about four possible outcomes when you make a choice to help.
The author suggests the best approach is to find balance between different values, considering both risks and rewards and seeking win-win outcomes.
The author suggests we can grow our ability to understand others and make helping decisions in our day-to-day life.
A professor questions the focus on selfishness in business education.
Different perspectives on human nature are explored, including the idea of inherent self-interest.
Four outcomes of a choice to help someone are described, with pros and cons.
The book argues that self-interest and interest in others are not opposites.
It suggests strategies for ethical decision-making, especially in business settings.
- Who
- Bidhan L Parmar, applied ethics professor
- What
- Examines the complex debate around ethics, human nature, and cooperation.
- When
- N/A
- Where
- Universities and business schools.
- Why
- To promote a nuanced understanding of ethics and behavior.
Emphasis on Altruism and Trust
Emphasis on Self-Interest
Human Nature
Emphasis on Altruism and Trust
Humans are capable of empathy and cooperation.
Emphasis on Self-Interest
Humans are primarily self-interested.
Ethical Approach
Emphasis on Altruism and Trust
Promote trust and mutual benefit (Quadrant 2).
Emphasis on Self-Interest
Prepare for a world where people exploit each other (Quadrant 4).
- Book Title
- Radical Doubt: Turning Uncertainty into Surefire Success
- Author
- Bidhan L Parmar
- Main Theme
- Conflicts around cooperation and human nature
- Key Concept
- Self-interest vs. altruism in ethics
- Core Argument
- Humans are complex, not purely selfish