Reaction to Disaster

I believe that humans are of inherently good nature. Based on this concept, humans will all have a similar reaction to a time of strife as a result of a disaster. First, there is the initial reaction of shock, followed by a concern for loved ones and friends. In the case of a disaster causing great harm and damage to one's environment, grief can be the dominant emotion. If a man has secured his own assets and assured the safety of those close to him, his next reaction would be to make sure that the more distant surroundings and people that influence his life in smaller ways are also safe and accounted for. This directly reflects the idea that people are inherently good. It has a lot to od with the idea of the invisible hand in a capitalist economy. The idea of the invisible hand states that people will act upon their own self interest and self gain before any one else's, and that because of this, the economy will flourish. If everyone maximizes their own benefits, the entire economy.society will maximize its benefits. In the case of a disaster, if everyone acts upon their own self interest first, there will be more people able to assist those injured or otherwise unable to help themselves, resulting in a faster and more efficient reconstruction of what was destroyed.

Reaction to Disaster