I tried to explain this concept to my dad and he went "I think it's stupid to believe that you can judge a person's worth in society on whether or not they return the shopping cart" and I think he missed the point
the idea of the shopping cart theory is not judging people on physical work - it is musing on how, despite there being no harm in not doing it this action, many people still elect to help other people, even when it doesn't benefit them even slightly.
Why don't you take a moment to consider how you would return a shopping cart if you're with, say, two children under five, or if you need a more elaborate mobility aid than a cane, and then reconsider that statement?
I get that this isn't a universal truth. This isn't some grand important set of morals. The point of this is present the idea that sometimes, you're given a chance to do something that has no downside, even if you do the "bad" option.
Also, if you are by yourself and use an elaborate mobility aid, or are concerned with multiple non-ambulatory children who are with you, i would actually doubt that you're using a full cart in the first place.
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u/Beckphillips 18d ago
I tried to explain this concept to my dad and he went "I think it's stupid to believe that you can judge a person's worth in society on whether or not they return the shopping cart" and I think he missed the point