We commonly say and it is taught in economics that humans are self interested. If accepted as an unchangeable axiom of human behavior, we have a problem in this explanation of the Kerala phenomena needing special attention. These different perspectives on human behavior may be seen as conflicting beliefs of altruism versus self interest. Such conflicts are resolved in this analysis by accepting both self interest and altruism.

Self interest may be more accurate in reference to the human individual while altruism is more accurate in reference to the human community. We may agree that humans are self interested provided that we may also agree that human altruism is a means to human self interest. We may agree that humans are altruistic provided that we may also agree that human self interest is a means to human altruism. In the relationships between humans, altruism is a means to self interest and self interest is a means to altruism.

Considerations of the good life, wealth and poverty,  and enough limits help explain human behavior living with both self interest and altruism at the same time.

(Directory)  March 20, 2000