Sophie Gunderson, Chapter 2, Question 6

I've always known that behind everything we do, we have motives. Whether they are good or bad, they are present with every action we take no matter how small. In chapter 2 of Naked Economics, Charles Wheelan addresses this fact precisely. The motives, or incentives, he discusses affect our everyday thinking and acting. 

This chapter begins with an example of the value of a black rhinoceros horn and how as the species becomes more endangered, the price of the horn goes up therefore more hunters will slaughter them. In other words, as the price of something goes up, the incentives of a person tends to grow as well. Short and sweet, "Incentives matter (p.34)". As this phrase stuck in my head as I continued to read, I could not help but start to compare us humans to dogs. When dogs learn that when they sit, they get a treat, they will sit. When they learn that barking will get them to come inside and thus get a treat, they will bark. I kept thinking that humans essentially have the same base for motives as dogs. We do things that benefit us as do dogs. 

With this thought it mind, I found it humorous to read Wheelan saying, "Human beings are complex creatures who are going to do whatever it takes to make themselves as well off as possible (p.36)". Out of this entire chapter, it was this quote that struck me the most because of the train of thought I obtained previous to reading it. Although humans do have a bagillion times more brain power than dogs, at the core of it all I can't help but wonder if it all boils down to the same natural instinct of the best incentives for yourself.