Ethical Philosophy: Altruism and Selfishness

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Many cultures and moral philosophies have promoted the idea of selflessness, such as Auguste Comte’s ethical doctrine of altruism, while others have promoted the idea of selfishness, such as the ethical doctrine of Egoism and Ayn Rand’s Objectivism. However, I argue that the self-interestedness supported by pro-selfishness philosophers does not necessarily conflict with the kindness supported by pro-selflessness philosophers.

The apparent opposition between these two philosophical viewpoints arises from the confusing use of terminology. Firstly, the term “selfish” is often used by pro-selfishness philosophers to describe what I would call self-interestedness. Self-interestedness simply refers to acting in one’s own interests, including indirect interests, while selfishness is commonly associated with acting upon excessively greedy, uncompassionate, or narcissistic motivations. It is argued that all individuals are inherently self-interested, as a person desires and values what they want and value, which becomes their goals, and they make decisions in an attempt to fulfill those desires, values, and goals. Therefore, the label “selfish” is generally reserved for individuals whose interests are more greedy, uncompassionate, or narcissistic than others.

Secondly, the term “selfless” is used by pro-selflessness philosophers to describe what I would call kindness or compassion. The term “selflessness” implies that an allegedly “selfless” individual has no desires, values, or goals, or at least does not try to act from them at all, which is not necessarily what pro-selflessness philosophers mean. Instead, when they call someone “selfless,” they probably mean that the individual has compassionate desires, values, and goals, and that they enjoy helping others and seeing others happy. It would be more accurate to describe these individuals as kind and compassionate, rather than selfless, as they have interests that they act upon.

In conclusion, the terms “selfishness” and “selflessness” may be compatible because the former can refer to self-interestedness and the latter can refer to kindness. Self-interestedness is not incompatible with kindness, and in fact, it may be in many people’s self-interest to help others, not only because others may return the favor, but also because we naturally empathize and sympathize with each other. We feel good when we see others feeling good, and we feel bad when we see others feeling bad. Helping others can bring enjoyment and reassurance to ourselves as well as to others.

Manuel Marino

Manuel Marino is a seasoned Senior Producer, Music Composer, and Artist with over a decade of experience. He specializes in branded entertainment across various mediums, including video games, films, and advertising campaigns. With 20+ years as a game music composer, Manuel has worked on numerous platforms, creating diverse orchestral soundtracks. HIRE ME