23/09/2024
---THINKING OF SELFISHNESS--
The concept of selfishness has been at the center of my philosophical interests in morality and ethics. The idea that we all, or most of us, to some extent or many of us to a substantial degree, behave selfishly has both become a common feature of our lives and attracted explanation and treatment on moral grounds. Almost every major moral and religious system conceives of moral and loving behavior as being necessarily altruistic, beneficent, or empathic rather than selfish. Indeed, prescriptions for loving or moral behavior are often presented as duties that must be performed even when we are selfishly inclined not to care for the well-being of others. When we are told to behave morally, it is thought that the advice must be distinguished from ordinary advice to be self-serving.
It is perfectly possible to allow these presumptions of morality and caring to rest within the realm of a moral point of view while admitting that concepts of selfishness are indispensable for at least some descriptions of moral and caring behavior. Of course, some philosophers have denied this. Some maintain that moral actions are by definition selfless. They hold that moral actions should be analyzed as those that do not involve self-interested considerations, for example, those actions undertaken simply because they are following orders from some legitimate authority, or out of a sense of simple obedience to a command or duty of the person bound by the action.
All too often self-interest is mistaken for selfishness. But the two are not really the same. The very word "selfishness" creates misconceptions and the stereotypes of a greedy, self-centered behavior that is basically not in harmony with human nature. This is why the word "self-interest" is usually preferred by market-oriented economists. But the negative connotations of the term "selfishness" are ones we have to contend with. It is certainly natural to care for oneself. That does not make us enemies. In fact, if everyone had the good intention of ensuring that he or she was able to stand on his or her own feet, the cooperation of those able to would be necessary for those who were not. Can you regard as selfish someone who is only interested in helping others, people who want to help others without any hope of improving their own lives? Can someone be thought selfish who wishes to live his or her own life in a certain way rather than the way which others wish him or her to do so? After all, it's my life - why should I simply serve the ends of others?
