Is Human always selfish?
Selfishness is part of nature. It is part of every human being. Regardless of what all humans may believe, selfishness is a part of everyone and is the motivation behind everything that we do. Some believe in order to survive humans must be selfish and think of their own needs above others. Strangely, it is an offense to be called selfish. Humans always act out of self interest and only behave unselfishly because they are compelled to do so by decree and tradition. Socrates asserts that to do wrong is in itself a desirable thing, yet to suffer wrong is undesirable.
I view selfishness as one who has the attitude of I have mine you need to get yours. A self centered person can be difficult to deal with, always feeling that their ways or ideas are better compared to another. Surviving in this world in which we live in may sometimes require a little selfishness, but not to the degree of walking over another person belief, opinion or ethics.
Objection, is it likely for a selfish man to be social through a sequence of compromises of self importance and a selfless man to be social by rebellious to an impersonal greater good? No person decides to be selfish because they want to or because they believe should be selfish because of some good value or moral they hold dearly. However the reason for desiring to be selfish always serves as some characteristic of self satisfaction. No matter what a person reason for being selfish it will always be their reason. Objectively actuality is a selfish desire which everyone is accountable for, however not every good or bad deed has a selfish reason. Mandeville believes that ethical hedonism teaches that each individual ought to seek his own pleasures. (Mandeville, Bernard) The belief of one being selfish stand a lesser chance of survival, how many people really believe they will not survive if they are not selfish or selflessness?
Resources:
1. Lee, Adam 2010 Daylight Atheism “Reengineering Human Nature: Selfishness” www.patheos.com Adam depicts solid principle that is rarely honored that teaches that we should be generous to the poor and needy and he
warns that greed and selfishness are destructive. Adams introduces that human being prefer receiving than giving, while the rich get richer and the poorer gets poorer. 2. Mandeville, Bernard, “Human Beings Are Always Selfish” www.philosophy.lander.edu Mandeville characterizes human nature through doctrines of psychological and ethical hedonism and psychological and ethical egoism. He believes that animals seek their own pleasure and do not think of the consequences, while human is extraordinary selfish, cunning and stubborn but capable of socialized if they can profit by it. Mandeville views on human nature describe the doctrine of his view of human are always selfish. 3. Philosophy Forums “Is man naturally selfish? www.forms.philosophyforums.com This forum depicts many different views from philosophers who share their ideas and experience on the subject matter. I find this forum to be enlightened as well as challenging. It will add much insight to why someone is considered selfish and what may have been the driving force. 4. Drikus’s Mind Musings 2010 “Why are people always selfish? www.hendriekusr.wordpress.com Drikus provides a very wise outlook on why are people always selfish depicting the basic instinct of selfish and the power of being selfish using religion and psychology to support his belief, something I find quite interesting and which would add flavor to my essay.
