SELFISHNESS AS A VIRTUE?

boristy (47)in #philosophy • 6 years ago (edited)

WHO DEFINES RIGHT OR WRONG?, ITS PERCEPTION.
Standards, ethics and moral values are different from one society or individual to the other.In this world what one may perceive to be right may be wrong to another person. This vary’s per one’s upbringing.A muslim jihad may believe that suicide bombing a setting is right as opposed to other religions. In this regard I would like to share my thoughts on selfishness which Ayn Rand describes as a virtue.

IS SELFISHNESS A GOOD OR BAD MORAL? My take;

“Selfishness” denotes an act of always having ones own interest above that of others.Is selfishness a virtue? Without due clarification that’s an understatement In my perception, it is totally right to always think of ways to progress in life. However, your decisions should not impact negatively on the progress of others. “Our prime purpose in life is to help others,if you cant help them at least don’t hurt them”-Dalai Lama. Besides is it not the holy scriptures that tells us to love our neighbors as ourselves? It is therefore every mans duty to think about himself.

Selfishness is a plague in our society from the highest authority down to the entire citizenry. Human nature in essence is very greedy as describes in economics as having unlimited needs in relation to limited resources, Wanting all for yourself only comes along with loads of effects on the less fortunate. Individuals tend to help their fellow when there is an anticipated future gain in the future.I recall a scenario whereby I had a few bucks for transport and food and a stranger walked up to me requesting for all the money to fund his medication. I was startled on what to do because handing him all the cash would leave me starving and without transport fee. Although I felt very bad, I did not hand him the money as I was also in need of it.

image source

Rand writes, "[A]ltruism permits no concept of a self-respecting, self-supporting man—a man who supports his own life by his own effort and neither sacrifices himself nor others…it permits no concept of benevolent co-existence among men…it permits no concept of justice" (VOS, p. ix).

This contest and views of selfishness introduced by @Mughat will educate all steemians.
Thank you for reading.

#life #mughat #morals

6 years ago in #philosophy by boristy (47)

Sort:

mughat (56) 6 years ago

WHO DEFINES RIGHT OR WRONG?, ITS PERCEPTION.

Objectivism actually offers an objective standard of value.

The Objectivist ethics holds man’s life as the standard of value—and his own life as the ethical purpose of every individual man.

The difference between “standard” and “purpose” in this context is as follows: a “standard” is an abstract principle that serves as a measurement or gauge to guide a man’s choices in the achievement of a concrete, specific purpose. “That which is required for the survival of man qua man” is an abstract principle that applies to every individual man. The task of applying this principle to a concrete, specific purpose—the purpose of living a life proper to a rational being—belongs to every individual man, and the life he has to live is his own.

Man must choose his actions, values and goals by the standard of that which is proper to man—in order to achieve, maintain, fulfill and enjoy that ultimate value, that end in itself, which is his own life.

http://aynrandlexicon.com/lexicon/standard_of_value.html

Overall you don't show a deep understanding of Objectivism. So I can't give you an upvote. But I hope you look more closely into the ideas.

$11.82

1 vote

[-]