@Matias Are you an AFD supporter?

I can't. The idea for me is a Pollyanna, tree-hugging way to not address the abominations that 'the human family' can perform. Rapists, paedophiles, torturers, political, religious and social manipulators, animal abusers and drug dealers are not in my circle.

I think that it is enough for me to engage with those people who are capable of engaging with me . None of my circles has ever contained my family of origin & I am fine about that - family means nothing to me unless we care about each other - Mine were mentally unwell and unreachable . Basically I will play with anyone who plays nice and doesnt pull anything on me and I am enormously happy being on my own or with a known friend having a laugh and a loon around & I wouldnt waste my precious time left with people who are not getting me in any way shape or form -

@Matias You believe you have nothing in common with many other human beings (Your response to me below)? You are incorrect and the claim displays alienaton from humanity. We all share the plight of the planet and need solutions that work for all. This alienated GRAND THEORIZING PHILOSOPHY is merely an excuse to be selfish and deny your responsibility. As a German, you are responsible for NATO and its leader, the USA, destroying Iraq, Syria, and Libya - thereby creating the current refugee problem, You are not some aloof GREAT WHITE FATHER who is above it all and is being asked for sympathy. It was European industrialization that started the destruction of the planet. Many refugees are fleeing climate change or wars caused by climate change (e.g. Syria). You and I are both complicit in the problem. We are both beneficiaries of Western Imperialism and responsible for its destructive human and environmental consequences. Give up idle philosophizing that reinforces alienation and reclaim your humanity!

To me, there is only one big family and we are one "circle" . But we can also put certain limits on people depending on their relationship to us. We all have equal worth, but we also have to be reasonable.

The two alternatives you posit are not mutually exclusive. Also let's talk specifics! Especially if you have refugees in mind....?

I don't believe it is justified as we are all the same species, presumably. It is the odd thing about immigration. Some expect us to believe people on one side of an imaginary line are good and those on the other side are bad based on the line alone. It isn't logical or reasonable. The internet has started to open the world, why not go all the way? Let's treat the human race with humanity!

I think we are all equal as humans. It's sad that some feel justified in seeing more value in one set of humans over another.

I respect everyone by defualt, till they direspect others.

I feel no sympathy for Mr. Cosby's day to day struggles.

Because each person is the end result of a very long evolutionary process, they are logically entitled to respect. If we are, as I lean toward thinking, all extensions of universal consciousness, then we are all the same thing from a higher perspective. I cannot harm another conscious being without harming myself.

That said, I think there are evolutionary reasons for a tribal mentality. Birds of a feather flock together for a reason. IMO, the tribal mentality is part of our instinctive makeup and we need not feel guilty or ashamed. Our bodies are actors on the world stage, and they generally follow the script. For greater happiness though, we can expand our circles, gradually experiencing the beauty of all.

I consider myself to be a primatist. I belong to a couple of primate supremacy groups, and I vote only for primates. The other mammals are ok in their places, but I certainly would not want my sister to marry one of them.

Per the [americanhumanist.org] website:

"Humanism is a progressive lifestance that, without theism or other supernatural beliefs, affirms our ability and responsibility to lead meaningful, ethical lives capable of adding to the greater good of humanity."

The only group listed is "the greater good of humanity", there are no separations for family ties or any other group. Personally I don't think sympathy and empathy have anything to do with it. It's not about the individual or their situation or their link to you, it's about all of humanity.

Not me.

I don't think prioritizing your inner circles implies that you think those in the outer circles are "less than". Rather, it reflects what your primary responsibility is for. Otherwise you would try by yourself to meet the needs / wishes / demands of the entire world which would not be feasible.

If everyone took care of themselves and their families, did a good job of that, there would be an "overflow" from which the family could give to friends, neighbors, work, town, district, country, etc.

So I see it as a perfectly legitimate way to break down your responsibilities and prioritize your discharge of them.

I have spent time meeting the needs of my wife and stepson and my work client today; if I didn't get around to my neighbor or give time or $$ to every possible charity or call my brother or whatever ... it's okay. It doesn't in any way reflect that I dehumanize the people I didn't get to.

The idea of one big circle is an ideal worth aspiring to, but really impractical since one can not know everything about everybody. I think it natural to show more sympathy and empathy to one's family since we have known them the longest, and our friends would come next in that scale.

I think the touchstone is whether we reject appeals from people without reason when we know that they need help and that we are able to offer it. If we do, then we aren't exhibiting very good humanist qualities.