[mrtranscendence]

I've experienced too much altruistic, generous, kind behavior to support this cynical view, unless you're defining "incentive" so widely as to be meaningless (sure, some people are incentivized to help others partially because they get good feelings by doing so -- I suppose Ayn Rand was right all along).

[BaronVonSteuben]

I don't think it's cynical at all, I think it's just accepting reality. Our advanced consciousness is just a very thin layer of abstraction on top of the same brain/mind that powers many other animals. Some of the best minds who study this, question if there's even any such thing as "free will" at all.

I don't think recognizing that is conflicting at all with a positive outlook, or the choice to be optimistic, or a humanist, etc. You can choose to believe it or choose not to believe it, and still value human life and try to progress humanity forward.

Also don't underestimate the value/incentive of following your conscience, acting out your beliefs etc. Cognitive dissonance (which results from not doing so) is deeply uncomfortable and a good motivator for being "altruistic."