[KJacob]

But we need something more, I think, a sense of wanting to help others live better lives

What if you have a lot of people that do not want to help others live better? Do you have a way to force them or are they free to do what they want?

[rogerv]

In some case we do use coercion. We have social obligations and duties we don't let people opt out of. For example, we insist on child support from absent dads. We insist that parents take care of their children, and do apply coercion to negligent ones. Not every social obligation requires such sanctions, and we are better off if we let the ones who are too selfish to chip in to go off in their own directions. I think it is important that we socialize our kids into a sense that we need to pay our debt of gratitude to society by some form of service. That's where we start, I think, not at the other end wondering what to do about those who don't care much for others. So, the short answer is: instill the sense of obligation early, and my guess is that enforcement issues will matter less, and certainly not be the general problem you suggest.

[PeterFinn]

Vanity post by a newbie. Content raises my "TrollAlert" but I won't toss down that gauntlet...yet.