Positive Feelings

Plague: Christians and Pagans

 

 

During its 15-year duration (A.D. 165-180), the plague took the lives of between one fourth and one third of the population of the Roman Empire. The second severe plague hit Roman Empire 100 years later.

 

Both Christian and pagan communities were affected by these plagues but the former survived much better than the latter. Why?

 

 

Large numbers of pagans, including rulers, priests and physicians, fled to get away

from the plague. Unlike the pagans, most Christians followed new moral norms of

mutual help and caring about the neighbors. They stayed and help each other as well

as ill pagans. According to epidemiologists, basic health care, such as providing pure

water and adequate warmth, can result in as much as a 30 percent higher survival

rate. Pagans observed this “miracle”, and, a s a result, conversion rates from paganism

to Christianity soared.

 

 

Storchevoy M. A. Corporate Social Responsibility. 2013

Topic 3. Where Do Norms Come From?

 

Positive Feelings

Patriotism

 

Many societies try to embed into its members love to the society as such or patriotism.

A patriotic person has strong positive feelings towards his/her motherland and may

sacrifice his/her life for its sake.

Is it rational?

Why it should be programmed?

 

Storchevoy M. A. Corporate Social Responsibility. 2013

Topic 3. Where Do Norms Come From?

 

3.5

Optimization Feelings

 

Storchevoy M. A. Corporate Social Responsibility. 2013

Topic 3. Where Do Norms Come From?

 

 

3.5. Optimization Feelings

Fear

 

 

Welfare of a person may be undermined by many various events – accidents, physical or

psychological injuries, loss of financial resources and so on. Usually the man may

anticipate and consciously avoid them. This anticipation and avoidance is rational

choice. However, every human has feeling of fear which appears when one understands

high probability of these actions or events. Why does we need these feelings if we

understand all consequences of dangerous events and can try to avoid them?

Is it rational?

Why it should be programmed?

 

 

Storchevoy M. A. Corporate Social Responsibility. 2013

Storchevoy M. A. Corporate Social Responsibility. 2013

Topic 3. Where Do Norms Come From?