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29 December 2024
If someone says something like "I want to save the world", that might sound grandiose. Maybe they want to "come up with a way to cure bacterial diseases". Some cultural messages they might hear: "It's crazy to think you could do that. What a big thing it would be if you did it. What a big person you would be." "Think of all the people who die from bacterial diseases. Haven't people been wanting to do something about that for years? Why do you think you're different?" "Do you think you're special? Are you trying to be better than other people? Aren't you a fool for trying this?"
On the other hand, saving the world is a big thing made up of many little, personal stories. With antibiotics, your parents didn't have to die young of tuberculosis. If you have a bacterial infection, you might even be angry at your doctor for not prescribing you antibiotics. You're expecting the doctor to save the world, on the scale of you.