It would seem to me that a self-interested person would recognize that cooperation among and with many others satisfies that self-interest. 
Posted on 06/22/2007 12:43:45 PM PDT by 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.
I guess that if you’re a Christian and you believe a god will send you to hell...well it might be in your rational self-interest to do as he says. :)
Then again I don’t have that problem.
Me;
[All definitions of “selfish’ include the words, “without regard for others”.
You;
And what’s wrong with that?
Me;
If we have a concience we have to have regard for others but God didn’t put the onus on each of us to save the world on our own. That’s impossible.
Common sense has to be used and yes, we should help in any ways we can.
No disrespect but “Live your own life, period” sounds pretty cold to me.
Of course, in that case, you have no self.
Selfishness as you said, is in spite of others. Striving honorably for the sustenance and well-being and security of one’s family is not selfish in the bad sense, nor evil.
Jealousy is a protectiveness about one’s rightful property or relationships and not necessarily evil. God, we are told, is jealous.
Envy, as contrasted with jealousy, craves something rightfully belonging to or in relationship with another; someone else’s home, car or wife, for example.
Here is, what I think anyway, a very interesting, well informed, and carefully considered, Christian perspective on Ayn Rand.
Ayn Rand: The Ayngriest Roguette
http://www.tektonics.org/qt/randayn01.html
.
Bump!
Snicker, that was a real ‘speed bump’ for you!!
Lol, thank you devolve.
I like your definitions much better than those the article espouses, Spirit! Yours are Biblical. Thanks so much for the ping to the interesting read.
"it is thus necessary that the individual should finally come to realize that his own ego is of no importance in comparison with the existence of his nation; that the position of the individual ego is conditioned solely by the interests of the nation as a whole ... that above all the unity of a nation's spirit and will are worth far more than the freedom of the spirit and will of and individual..."
"This state of mind . which subordinates the interests of the ego to the conservation of the community , is really the first premise for every truly human culture ... the basic attitude from which such activity arises, we call - to distinguish it from egoism and selfishness - idealism. By this we understand only the individual's capacity to make sacrifices for the community, for his fellow men."
these statements were made in our century by the leader of a major Western nation. His countrymen regarded his viewpoint as uncontroversial. His political program implemented it faithfully.
The statements were made by Adolph Hitler. He was explaining the moral philosophy of Nazism.
Leonard Peikoff, The Ominous Parallels, 13
Of course, in that case, you have no self.
Who told you Christians have no self?
Nonsense. God created, enables and sustains ALL LIFE.
Selfishness is the antithesis of fullfillment and realization of true happiness as a human being created by God.
This has to be one of the most warped articles I have ever read.
It would seem to me that a self-interested person would recognize that cooperation among and with many others satisfies that self-interest.
Thanks for the ping!
Those are the words I was looking for. Thank you.
Thank you too!
Bump!
Also sounds like today’s Clinton Communitarians who work toward Commonism!
It kinda goes against an idea I strive to emulate first espoused by John the Baptist, "I must decrease so that He (Christ) may increase". I acknowledge that it will probably take me the rest of my life to achieve this, but by the Grace of God, I hope to.
Being selfish has never made me happy, and I don't see happiness in my children when they are being selfish. On the contrary, when I'm focused on my needs, I find I'm focusing on all the things I'm lacking. But when I focus on others' needs, I forget my own and "accidentally" find myself much happier and more content. Even my 12-yr-old is happier when he's doing for others as opposed to trying to get his way.
Honestly, America is the most materially blessed of all nations of nearly all times, and yet how many people are on anti-depressants?
True happiness can only be found in fulfilling the vocation that God has created us for, and doing it all for Him.
If, as an altruist, I believe it's good to sacrifice myself for the sake of others, and I combine that with the belief that it's good to treat others as I wish to be treated, then I'd have no problem sacrificing others for any cause I deem to be good.
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