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The Key to Survival is Altruism

Alexandra Kaziyeva



In the 14th century, Dante Alighieri wrote The Divine Comedy. While the book is filled with myriads of parables, there is one in particular that stood out to me most. The allegory of the long spoons illuminates the connection between selfishness and survival. Thought experiment: If you and others only had a very long spoon to eat with, such that the spoon cannot reach your mouth without spilling, would you and the others starve?


In the thought experiment, did you try to feed yourself or your neighbor? The lesson is that we create our own hell by only thinking of ourselves. If there is a shared problem among people, why not unite as a team and attack the problem head on together? You will thrive among people who consider others first before themselves.

©2023-2025 by Alexandra Kaziyeva

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