Here's something I've thought about: Is there really any "good" in people, or is there just varying degrees of evil? I've come close to the conclusion that it is in people's nature to do no good whatsoever and will only do something to satisfy their evil, selfish desires.

Think about it:

Do people give to the missions to help developing countries, or do they do it to feel good about themselves?

Do people go into business to improve the world with their products, or are they always in it for the money?

Do doctors, lawyers, polce/firemen, or anyone else in a position to help and protect people really want to help people or do they want their paycheck?

Do people do volunteer work to help the elderly/needy, or do they do it because it makes them feel good about themselves?

Are laws and regulations, religous beliefs, or any other system of morals the only thing that keeps people in line? Would we survive in a theoretical anarchistic, atheistic, everyone-for-themselves system?

On top of that, I've also thought about varying degrees of evil. Is there a spectrum of evil people, like how just some are selfish people all the way to some being mass terrorists? Are people we think of "good" just at the least end of the spectrum?

Every day, it just looks like more and more that people are inherently evil, and that good doesn't exist in this world. What's your take?