Posted on 06/22/2007 12:43:45 PM PDT by Raymann
“If you think self interest is the same as Nature Herself”
Who does that? What does that mean?
“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.”
No, but egoism does.
Of course, what you desribe has nothing to do with egoism as the author describes. Even though the author points out the common error of confusing egoism with egotism and hedonism, you still make that mistake.
“Just like all things in life there must be a balance.”
This is at best a rule of thumb, not a philosophy. Even as a rule of thumb, it is too vague and fraught with exceptions.
“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.”
The post was about selfishness as egoism. The article describes it, but you must read it. If you had read it, I don’t think you would have made the mistake that you did here. “Shoulder[ing] the weaker out of the way” does not characterize the egoist.
“Unless the selfish egotist wants your stuff; then you are dead.”
That may be true. But then the article espouses egoism, not egotism.
Irrational egoism?
“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.”
Yes! Egoism is about vigorously defending—and never sacrificing—your values, presuming your values are rationally determined.
It is not inconceivable that an egoist may even face near certain death in defense of those values (such as husband for a wife, or mother for her child). Although an egoist always prefers to LIVE for his values.
How does this differ from selflessness? A selfless person feels guilty when he acts for his values. When he has the opportunity to spend 24-7 helping and advancing one human being (himself) he prefers to instead stifle that person to advance some stranger (who may or may not share his values—thus sacrificing a known value for an uncertain one) or even someone who demonstrably opposes his values. He arbitrarily discriminates against himself for the mere reason that it IS himself.
In short, a selfless person values value-destruction. His life is a contradiction—and he is often a neurotic.
“Hitler pursued what he believed was his self interest”
Rationality is not subjective. It is conformance with objective reality. Hitler’s interest was decidedly irrational on many fronts, from his mysticism to his military strategies.
Of course one can be in error. Omniscience doesn’t exist. However, since reality budges for no man, repeatedly flying headfirst against it may eventually split your skull.
“No disrespect but “Live your own life, period” sounds pretty cold to me.”
Not as cold as threatening to put me behind bars unless I throw my hard-earned money at someone I know does not support my highest values.
Well it sounded like the same philosophy but I am not so well versed as to make a certain declaration. I do remember an interview and a movie clip about her. But as interesting as she was, the exclusion of God will not be the path I choose.
Thanks for the ping/info. Thanks to all contributors to this really good thread.
How disgusting.
I hope you read post #30 at
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1854750/posts?page=30#30
True, Hitler did advocate (for others) State over Individual. He was a socialist. But he clearly put himself first in pursuit of what he believed to be his self interest....ie. achieving a great destiny, at the cost of millions of lives and the near destruction of Germany.
Read a bio on Hitler....his actions were all about him and his goal of greatness.
I haven’t. Thanks for the link. Lots of good reading material tonight and this week.
“That may be true. But then the article espouses egoism, not egotism.”
Thanks for pointing that out; -ist instead of -tist.
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