Damasio on our two natures

Continuing this post, Damasio realizes we have two natures: One dominated by natural selection pressures and one we've consciously and culturally created. The former are individually selfish and the latter are communally caring. There is a constant struggle between the two.

"But here is a place for remedy: Controlling the relentless pursuit of our self-interests so that we make broader homeostasis efforts possible. [...] We can directly and willfully counter our genetic mandate when we refuse to act on our appetite for food or sex, or resist the impulse to punish another, or when we follow an idea tha runs counter to a natural tendency, such as procreating or depleting natural resources like drunken sailors" (229 - 30).