[pmarreck]

When business takes a downturn and you have to choose whether you get to eat or the person you're paying gets to eat, do "morals" really come into play, here?

> I have a recent counter razor: "Never attribute to malice or stupidity what is better explained by self-interest"

My modification: "Never attribute to malice or stupidity what is better explained by rational self-interest"

The key observation being that even people at odds often act in rational self-interest given the situation they are in with its associated needs and challenges, and the information they are aware of. The only way to bridge this is via communication.

[kerkeslager]

It seems like you might have a more nuanced view of what the phrase "rational self-interest" means to you than the average person, but given how people actually use that phrase most often, I think that phrase isn't an effective way for you to communicate what you're trying to communicate.

The phrase "rational self-interest" as it's most often used is just a euphemism for "acquiring as much money as possible" which is neither rational nor what most people are interested in for themselves. There are lots of people who make the choice to take less money in exchange for more time with their families, more fulfilling work, etc., and that's a rational choice. And we have ample evidence that beyond a certain point, making more money doesn't make you happier.