Is selfishness really a bad thing?

Posted by edweaver 9 years, 7 months ago to Philosophy
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Another post got me thinking about the subject of selfishness. It seems to me that everything that a person does of their own free will is for their own interest or selfish. I would love to hear what others think.


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  • Posted by khalling 9 years, 7 months ago
    Of course having free will also means you might do something that is not in your self interest. People do self destructive things all the time. Here is a class on selfishness given by Will Thomas at the Atlas Society. Let me know what you think :
    http://www.atlassociety.org/as/virtue-an...
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    • Posted by 9 years, 7 months ago
      Great class! Thanks for sharing. This is kind of what I wanted to get at with this post but an even more basic discussion. It seems to me that even doing something for someone out of kindness is in a way selfish or no one would do the good deed. In this context, I think selfish is a great thing. It makes all actions possible.
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    • Posted by Robbie53024 9 years, 7 months ago
      The list of "selfishness" acts just goes to demonstrate that the fundamental definition used by O's regarding selfishness is incorrect. People using a common definition of selfish would agree that most all those statements are examples of selfishness - but few if any of them are agreed by O's that they are an indication of selfishness. Thus, there is something wrong in the definition used, it doesn't correspond to common acceptance.

      Also, earlier in the presentation, Mr. Thomas asks the question, "Do Objectivists (those espousing selfishness) behave differently from other people (ostensibly those espousing altruism since the religious would be included)?" Since the answer seems to be "no" then if they are behaving similarly, by have a "different" ethos, then there seems to be something wrong - or maybe they really are the same? And if an Objectivist can donate to a worthy cause, and an altruist also donate to the same worthy cause, are they any different?

      Thank you for posting this. It seems to be making my point for me.
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  • Posted by ISank 9 years, 7 months ago
    On day 1 of my Econ course students digest a great Adam Smith quote
    "He generally, indeed, neither intends to promote public interest, nor knows how much he is promoting by directing its produce he intends only his own gain, and he is in this, as in many other cases, led by an invisible hand to promote an end which was no part of his intention. Nor is it always the worse for the society that it was no part of it. By pursuing his own interest he frequently promotes that of the society more effectually than when he really intends to promote it."

    Since this is the Gulch, Ms Rand made this world a better place by pursuing her own self interest.

    A little wet but still a beautiful day, carpe diem
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  • Posted by Zenphamy 9 years, 7 months ago
    Selfishness as opposed to selflessness is essential for life. Life is what a human has. To be less than selfish is to diminish that life, to reduce the value one places in his very existence.
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    • Posted by Solver 9 years, 7 months ago
      A person practicing selflessness may work hard to make other people happy and expect other people to make them happy. When others don't or won't do that, another cog may join the collective of angry unlucky progressives demanding their ideas of fairness and equalness for all.
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  • Posted by CarolSeer2014 9 years, 7 months ago
    I am the most selfish person you will ever meet. I am so selfish I will never compromise my values, including the high value in which I hold myself, for any other person. I agree with Rand: "The man who does not value himself, cannot value anyone or anything."
    That is true selfishness. It does not entail taking advantage of someone else for your own gain. Just the opposite, in fact. It involves the moral principle that when I receive value, I give value back--I am that selfish! As Shakespeare said, To thine ownself be true: it must needs follow as night the day, thou cans't not then be false to any man. I am that selfish.
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