Selfishness, Defined

The First Creation ^ | May 28, 2007 | William Dvorak

[Raymann]

Egoism is a state of mind where a person values all things in terms of their value to the self. Egoism and selfishness are virtues, in fact the greatest of all virtues, as they enable life.

All living beings are selfish. To survive, they must be. Without fulfilling one's basic needs of water, food, or protection, one would cease to exist. Although selfishness is a necessity, many people hold selflessness as their goal in life, and this altruistic thinking is a dominating and corrosive mainstay of today's society. If one were to give all of his money to charity or devote all time to a selfless cause, there would be no opportunity for survival. He may as well commit suicide. The altruists of today hold any action for the benefit of others as the moral ideal. If one were to follow strictly the basic tenets of altruistic thought, he would perish. But how can the epitome of a philosophy be suicidal? By maintaining an intrinsic contradiction in the philosophy. Many people live this contradiction, reaching for an ideal that they know not is impossible. They think that any time they purchase an SUV, a house, a new stereo system, or bread, they are doing wrong—they are taking for the self and not giving of the self. The contradiction of the philosophy of altruism is the belief in self-deprecation, self-sacrifice, self-destruction. An individual, let alone a society, can not prosper where all actively seek death.

Selfishness enables life and allows for happiness. As stated, all beings are selfish to a certain degree; the ideal, however, is complete selfishness. To care only for what enables and furthers one's life. This perfection is know as rational egoism—constantly acting only in one's best interest. Few people strive for this ideal, let alone actualize it. Some hold a fog, an undeveloped presage, of this ideal as their goal. These people struggle constantly with decisions between pursuing personal goals and giving in to immediate demands (that are opposed to the person's rational self interest) of friends or family. They fear for the opinion of others, or worse, recognize an inherent obligation of the self to others. Fear not, and stand proudly. This life is yours, and the degree to which you hold this as true is proportional to the life you will enjoy. Egoists may stand alone, or they may choose to stand together—egoists are not antisocial. An egoist is often interested in others. Spending time with friends who share or embody an excellence of spirit (used here not in the non-material sense but as a passion for life) is often a rewarding experience. Synergy experienced by enthusiastic groups benefit all individuals in a selfish way; a rationally interested individual would choose to engage with others for this purpose. Selfishness and egoism are not egotism (expecting or seizing the unearned) or hedonism (yielding to the expediency of the moment)—two other concepts it is often confused with.

To live consistently (without contradiction) requires an explicit and relentless exercising of one's capacity to determine and fulfill one's rational self interest. This is the only means for life at its highest.

[Raymann]

I had to put this up here, I think it offers an interesting perspective to conservatives on the nature of morality. You don’t have to agree with it but hopefully you can reflect on some of the questions it raises.

[BipolarBob]

Ayn Rand held a similar philosophy I believe. Some Rand fans feel free to correct me.

[Cicero]

Yes. It is, well, selfish.

If you think self interest is the same as Nature Herself, then you end up, as Hobbes put it in Leviathan, with human life as “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.”

Everyone for himself, and the devil take the hindmost. If you want something, take it, and if the other fellow objects, kill him. Contrary to expectations, this kind of attitude does not lead to great happiness.

[SabianKinslow]

Just like all things in life there must be a balance. Either extreme will cause death. You state one side that will cause a failure of life but you fail to mention the other extreme. Pure selfishness is just as self destructive and pure selflessness. Just imagine if everyone were purely selfish. Even the most powerful who would shoulder the weaker out of the way for their own survival would eventually be taken down by others.

If you are trying to legitimise selfishness and demonize selflessness, you really should think hard about what you are espousing.

[Daffy]

“Egoism and selfishness are virtues, in fact the greatest of all virtues, as they enable life.”

Unless the selfish egotist wants your stuff; then you are dead.

[marsapan]

“Unless the selfish egotist wants your stuff; then you are dead.”

You’re speaking of Hillary, right?

[Redcloak]

The Altruist is one who believes in salvation by works. His good works are not intended to benefit others, but rather, to purchase his own salvation.

[marsapan]

While i was raised to regard selfishness as a vice, I realized early on in my adult life that i had to be selfish to a degree in order to take care of myself...so i, in turn, could take care of my children.

[freekitty]

I am not sure selfishness is the right word to use.

[lilylangtree]

Or, Pelosi, Reid, Boxer, Feinstein, Kennedy, or some other socialist in Congress.

[potlatch]

I am not sure selfishness is the right word to use.

I agree with you. I don't equate 'self preservation' with selfishness.

All definitions of "selfish' include the words, "without regard for others".

[KarlInOhio]

Your children? That's awfully selfish and egotistical of you to think of them as your children. They belong to the Village. < /sarcasm which goes to 11>

[KarlInOhio]

Ayn Rand held a similar philosophy I believe.

Here's the book.

[marsapan]

Well, then the Village can pay for their college education.

Fall tuition due NOW!

[Raycpa]

To live consistently (without contradiction) requires an explicit and relentless exercising of one's capacity to determine and fulfill one's rational self interest. This is the only means for life at its highest.

Unless of course you are a Christian. Then the consistent objective is to allow God to glorify Christ in all that we do.

[HerrBlucher]

To live consistently (without contradiction) requires an explicit and relentless exercising of one's capacity to determine and fulfill one's rational self interest. This is the only means for life at its highest.

What is one's rational self interest? Hitler pursued what he believed was his self interest....to achieve a great destiny he believed was in store for him. Charles Manson pursued what he believed was his rational self interest. Hillary Clinton is pursuing what she believes is her rational self interest.

Doesn't this philosophy simply amount to "Do your own thing man", and haven't we heard that before with the failed hippie movement?

[mjp]

The Objectivist ethics proudly advocates and upholds rational selfishness – which means: the values required for man’s survival qua man – which means: the values required for human survival –not the values produced by the desires, the emotions , the ”aspirations,” the feelings, the shims or the needs of irrational brutes, who have never outgrown the primordial practice of human sacrifices, have never discovered an industrial society and can conceive of no self-interest but that of grabbing the loot of the moment.

The Objectivist ethics holds that human good does not require human sacrifices and cannot be achieved by the sacrifice of anyone to anyone. It holds that the rational interests of men do not clash – that there is no conflict of interests among men who do not desire the unearned , who do not make sacrifices nor accept them, who deal with one another as traders, giving value for value.

Ayn Rand, The Objectivist Ethics, The Virtue of Selfishness, 28;pb 31

[HangnJudge]

One can not love another person without first loving them self
You cannot love another person more than you love yourself

What saves a Christian in this context
is an awareness of where all love comes from

If the Lord loves me, I must love myself
End of Story
If the Lord loves you, I must love you
End of Story

It is very simple from that context

[Matchett-PI]

“..The whole point of free market capitalism is that it acknowledges self-interest and greed at the outset, providing it a with pro-social outlet without anyone having to force the issue from on high. ..”

More: http://tinyurl.com/2b3j69

[Raymann]

All definitions of "selfish' include the words, "without regard for others".

And what's wrong with that? When I left the office today for lunch I passed by at least three homeless people. I could have taken a smaller lunch, honestly I could lose the weight, and given them the money. But I walked on like I'm sure most of you did.

Or look at it this way, when you see the starving children on TV and they tell you that for only $1 a day you could save their lives, are you being selfish by not sending in the money?

What the author’s point is is simple: Live your own life, period. Both he and I are Objectivists, the concept of violating another individual rights is virtually incomprehensible to us. But so is living for another person. If you want to give away your wealth, fine. If you want to keep it, that’s fine too but it’s all your choice. Our definition of selfishness is the opposite of altruism which is living of others. If it makes you feel good to give all your money away, then it is selfish to do so. If you give away your money because you feel your morally obligated, then that’s altruism and that is evil.