Self-interest, or selfish; two different words with two different meanings often used synonymously in the English language. The Oxford American Dictionary defines self-interest as looking towards one’s own personal advantage, whereas selfishness is defined as acting or doing according to one’s own interests and needs without regard for those of others, keeping good things for oneself and not sharing ( Oxford 824 ).
By definition both words imply thought or action of an individual directed toward personal benefit. However similar these two words are not the same. The word selfish has negative connotations of self-gratification with disregard for others; and is therefore looked down on by society. On the other hand, self-interest is viewed more positively implying thought or action directed toward personal benefit, this being more socially acceptable.
It can be argued that all action good or bad stems from either a self-interested or selfish motives. Self-interest is natural, even instinctual in all human beings; acting in behalf of self-preservation is of the most basic form of such action. So the argument goes; if a person acts in any way for their personal well being, then they are acting on self-interest. A great deal has been said concerning the subject of self-interest by many philosophers offering different views on the subject, these views have become known as the theory of ethical and psychological egoism ( Rosenstand 127).
Ethical egoism is the theory that everyone ought to be egoistic, selfish, or self-interested, while the theory of psychological egoism is that everyone is selfish, or self-interested ( Rosenstand 544-547).
The Coursework on Reflective writing – personal view
There are many learning theories, each of them emphasizing various aspects of the teaching and learning process. I support the claim that adult learning should be looked at as a distinct style of learning and is unique to that of child and adolescence learning. Adults bring their life experiences into the classroom. They bring past knowledge as well as past biases and beliefs. Adult students want ...
Regardless of age, race, religion, culture, or gender; everyone is self-interested. Perhaps it could be said that this is an absolute equal opportunity aspect of just being human. The only people without self-interest are the dead ones…who most likely ended up that way for the lack thereof. Basically we all have it; so now, as inspired by the great Plato; our concern should be directed to defining the forms of self-interest ness. Ultimately then, what is the greatest form of self-interest? Could it be that the greatest form to be sought is truth, because not only is this most beneficial when found, but the entire search brings forth positive results as almost a side effect of the endeavor.
There are so many philosophers that have written about what they believe to be of the most interest for ones own benefit. To choose one philosopher of the many; Saint Augustine was most agreeable in his endeavors to expound upon this search for truth. Augustine himself searched for a satisfactory set of philosophical beliefs, and much can, and has been said for what he concluded. Augustine was a successful teacher of rhetoric who eventually converted to Christianity by way of some decisive inner experience. Augustine formulated the doctrine of his religion into a comprehensive and enduring world view by an effective assimilation of Greek philosophy into Christian belief (Great Traditions 69-70).
Augustine states that ”in loving God, we love truth…that one cannot obtain true knowledge without faith: One should first believe in order to understand.” Through faith we progress towards knowledge and eventually a transcendental understanding of God, who is the essence of all truth (Great Traditions 71)?
Augustine’s teachings center on Christianity, the omnipotent and omniscient God who defines truth. Everyone is self-interested or selfish with the exception of Jesus Christ and his atonement, as understood by practicing Christians. For the intent of finding the highest form of self-interest while avoiding religious persuasion it is still worth while to examine the teachings of Saint Augustine.
The Research paper on South Africa Trc Truth Form
Social Justice is that tenet, or notion of our being, which we as civilized humans have come to embrace as the vehicle by which we define our own order in society today. This very notion has been relevant in contempory South Africa, due to our past and the previous Apartheid Regime. Since justice is almost a science in the form of the Naturalist approach to the study of law, it would be in our ...
The consistencies of a Christian existence have great merit relating to this highest form of self-interest. Ultimately, after this life is over there is a reward for living according to these certain principles. This reward in the end validates the many acts that would otherwise be inconsistent with self-orientated behavior. In the mean time, living a life consistent with such Christian beliefs is not without satisfaction and a measure of happiness. So, could it not be that the benefits of such a life are immediate and inevitable. Meaning is found and purpose is perpetuated through this constant desire for the reward. Augustine taught that there are two types of human society; those who live after the flesh and those that live after the spirit. Living after the flesh is associated with a selfish carnal nature seeking self-gratification and lacking in morals. Therefore living after the spirit is more desirable though not entirely without potential for animosities of the soul. Most important of all, is the fundamental blessing of the soul, sense and intellect, of which one is given for perception and the other for the ever-important comprehension of truth (Great Traditions 71-78 ).
In the first chapter of The Moral of the story by Nina Rosenstand we are introduced to why we should be concerned with ethics and morals. As human being living together in a community having to interact with one another challenges us to find common ground that we may get along. We all want to have the freedom to pursue the natural rights of life, liberty and happiness. This is where the ideas consistent with the Christian doctrines upheld by Augustine are so important. One of the most important of these doctrines is the ever famous “Golden rule”, of treating others how we want to be treated. This twenty-four karat rule can then be translated to say that it is most beneficial for oneself to act as one desires to be acted upon, therefore social conduct is motivated by one of the forms of self-interest. The search for the highest form of self-interest is then served through the ever-challenging quest for truth relevant in the study of ethics, morality, and philosophy as discussed in chapter one of The Moral of the Story. Theories of morality are markers of progress towards this ultimate goal for truth, for in part, to the best of reasoning at the time these theories become standards of most correctness; being a form of truth.
The Essay on Decline Of Morals Ethics Values
In recent years, it seems that America, has clearly become out of control when it comes to its young people committing crimes, the treatment of the elderly, defacing public property and all together out of control attitudes and non-accountability. There seems to have been more serious crimes committed by youth recently than there has ever been. By the way some youth act out on social media and ...
Works Cited
Rosenstand, Nina. The Moral of the story. Mountain View: Mayfield, 1999.
Denise, Theodore C., Peterfreund, Sheldon P., White, Nicholas P. Great Traditions in Ethics. Belmont: Wadsworth, 1999. Ehrlich, Eugene, Flexner, Stuart B., Carruth, Gorton, Hawkins, Joyce M. Oxford American Dictionary. New York: Avon, 1973. Frankena, William K. Ethics. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, 1973.
Kavka, Gregory S., “The reconciliation Project.” Rationality, Morality, and Self-Interest. Ed. John Heil. Maryland: Rowan & Littlefield, 1993.
