INTRODUCTION
AYN RAND chose this PROVOCATIVE TITLE because she was on a
mission to overcome CENTURIES OF DEMONIZATION.
This title can evoke in everyones mind that why to use the word
SELFISHNESS to denote virtuous qualities of ones character. When
that word antagonizes so many people to whom it does not mean the
things you mean.
The meaning ascribed in popular usage to the word SELFISHNESS is
not merely wrong, it represents a devastating intellectual package
deal which is responsible more than any other single factor for the
arrested moral development of mankind.
WHAT IS SELFISHNESS??
In popular usage the word SELFISHNESS is a synonym of EVIL(who
cares for no living being and pursues nothing but the gratification of
the mindless wins).
Yet the exact meaning and dictionary definition of the word
selfishness is: concern with ones own interests.
This concept does not include a moral evaluation; it does not tell us
whether concern with ones own interests is good or evil; nor does it
tell us what constitutes mans actual interests. It is the task of ethics
to answer such questions.
CAN SELFISHNESS BE A
VIRTUE???
A very famous psychologist called Bob Rosen said
When you take care of yourself first, you show up as a healthy,
grounded person in life
Its in our nature to take care of our own needs first.
As we evolved, we developed higher order needs, [such as] becoming
community centered.Our theory of human development is based on a
model that youre either selfish or youre community oriented. The
truth is that you need to be both. Its not an either-or.
Selfish is an ugly word but it can mean two different
things:
1: The first one is that youre unkind and inconsiderate of others.
2: The other is that you take responsibility for getting your personal,
emotional and physical needs met, and thats an important part of
becoming an adult.
HOW CAN SELFISHNESS BE A
VIRTUE???
Key to healthy selfishness is being self-focused instead of self-involved.
Schedule some me time, and you might discover these four benefits:
Youll Be Healthier
Selfish people tend to take better care of themselves instead of giving
too much energy away serving the needs of everyone else.
2. Youll Have an Advantage When It Comes to
Leadership Roles
Studies have shown that acting in your own self-interest you may give
you an advantage in leadership roles
Selfish people are more confident and less likely to give up on
goals.They go after what they want unapologetically, and theyre not
afraid to ask for the raise or promotion.Selfish people have a drive to
succeed..There is often a higher purpose to be a great leadertaking
care of other people. But if you cant take care of yourself, you cant
care for others. Being selfish is critical.
3. Youll Have Better
Relationships
People will have a harder time manipulating or taking advantage of
you if youre selfish. Setting boundaries means knowing where you
end and other person begins.If you have trouble being self-focused,
you might have trouble saying no.
To be a healthy, grounded person, you need to be selfish. .If youre
looking to a partner to fill your emotional needs, your relationship is
vulnerable. The best relationships happen when two adults show up
and enjoy each other.
4. Youll Be Happier
Selfish people spend their time doing activities they like to do.
If you have a well-developed sense of who you are, what you enjoy
and the ability to communicate this to others, youll be a happier
person.Putting yourself first is not a negative quality; its your job to
take care of yourself and get what you need
The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
A selfish person tends to puts his own needs before the needs of
others. As a professional, this doesnt exactly make you the best team
player. A strong team is made up of people who are willing to sacrifice
their own glory for the sake of the group.
But there is a time and place for selfishness, my friends. You have to
look out for yourself in this world. You deserve success. Your needs
are just as important as the needs of others. You have to be willing to
fight for themor no one else will.
The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
There is a fundamental moral difference between a man who sees his
self-interest in production and a man who sees it in robbery. The evil
of a robber does not lie in the fact that he pursues his own interests,
but in what he regards as to his own interest; not in the fact that he
pursues his values, but in what he chose to value; not in the fact that
he wants to live, but in the fact that he wants to live on a subhuman
level.
ALTRUISM
If it is true that what I mean by selfishness is not what is meant
conventionally, then thisis one of the worst indictments of altruism: it
means that altruism permits no concept of a self-respecting, self-
supporting mana man who supports his life by his own effort and
neither sacrifices himself nor others. It means that altruism permits no
view of men except as sacrificial animals and profiteers-on-sacrifice, as
victims and parasitesthat it permits no concept of a benevolent co-
existence among menthat it permits no concept of justice.
EGOISM
Men have been taught that the ego is the synonym of evil, and
selflessness the ideal of virtue. But the creator is the egoist in the
absolute sense, and the selfless man is the one who does not think,
feel, judge or act. These are functions of the self.
As poles of good and evil, he was offered two conceptions: egoism
and altruism.
Egoism was held to mean the sacrifice of others to self.
The egoist in the absolute sense is not the man who sacrifices others.
He is the man who stands above the need of using others in any
manner.
SELFISHNESS AND MORALITY
The moral purpose of a mans life is the achievement of his own happiness,
as we all have heard that CHARLITY BEGINS AT HOME.
This does not mean that he is indifferent to all men, that human life is of no
value to him and that he has no reason to help others in an emergency.
But it does mean that he does not subordinate his life to the welfare of
others, that he does not sacrifice himself to their needs, that the relief of
their suffering is not his primary concern, that any help he gives is
an exception, not a rule, an act of generosity, not of moral duty, that it
is marginal andincidentalas disasters are marginal and incidental in the
course of human existenceand that values, not disasters, are the goal, the
first concern and the motive power of his life.
SELFISHNESS AND SELF-ESTEEM
Since selfishness is concern with ones own interests, the Objectivist
ethics uses that concept in its exact and purest sense. It is not a
concept that one can surrender to mans enemies, nor to the
unthinking misconceptions, distortions, prejudices and fears of the
ignorant and the irrational. The attack on selfishness is an attack on
mans self-esteem; to surrender one, is to surrender the other.
Finding the Balance
So its a delicate balance. I believe that selfishness, in the career-limiting
sense, means that youre so consumed in your own world that youre
unable to understand or work effectively within a bigger system.
But dont confuse this for self-respect. Its NOT selfish to know what you
want from your career and go after it. Its not selfish to be loyal to your own
needs. Listen to your inner voice and do whats right for you, even when
others are pushing you in the opposite direction.
Dont give up on your own dreams simply because someone else got there
first. Dont be content with a supporting role if youre dying to be a star. You
can fight for the success you want and deserve while still being a strong
team member.
Finding the Balance
For ex. All too often, I see professionals (especially women) who
sacrifice everything because theyre afraid of being selfish. They stay
in jobs they hate out of loyalty for bosses who dont respect them and
companies that dont even know they exist. They refuse to stand up
and demand credit for their work when others take it from them.
They hesitate when asking for a raise because they dont want to be
greedy. They refuse to promote their own strengths because they
dont want to be arrogant.
Theyre afraid of shining too brightly for fear that it will somehow
create darkness for others.
CONCLUSION
I want you to stand up and take whats yours. But I also want you to
play nice in the sandbox. I think its possible to do both. I think theres
a way to love yourself, and do whats best for you, while also working
well inside the system. Its a matter of respectfor yourself and for
the team.
The world is full of abundance. Dont play like its a zero-sum game. If
you win, it doesnt necessarily mean others lose. You deserve success
as much as the next guy, if youre willing to work for it.
HOW SELFISH ARE YOU..??
Rules Of The Game :-
10 Questions
You Have 10 Seconds to answer each of them
Choose One of the Option from the given Four.
Q. 1) Are You a Jealous Person..?
A. Yes, I get Jealous All the Time
B. I usually Control my Jealousy, its not worth it
C. Sometimes, but I dont get really Jealous
D. Never, Jealousy is not my thing
Q. 2) Do You Like to receive gifts or
give them.?
A. To be honest, receiving is so much better than giving
B. I hate both giving and receiving Gifts
C. I Like both giving and receiving Gifts
D. Its better to give then Recieve
Q.3)Have you been tempted to keep
any type of wild animal in captivity.?
A. Yes, I kept/have Lizards,Birds etc.
B. Yes, But its against the Law
C. A little but they should be free
D. Never, wild animals are not meant to be pets
Q. 4)Do you listen to other peoples
Problem.?
A. No, what they are complaining about doesnt interest me at all
B. Rarely, Most of their problems are ridiculous things
C. Often,I cant do it when I feel bad about myself
D. Always I am a good listener
Q. 5)Would You help the homeless.?
A. Why would I? they are Bad-Evil People
B. No, who has time for that?
C. Yes, there are benefits
D. Yes, I would love to volunteer
Q. 6)How do you react if someone
trips you.?
A. Push them/Trip them back
B. Give them a dirty Look
C. Wait to hear their excuse
D. Ignore the incident,it happens
Q.7 )Do you demand the best seats
in Movie theater, Restaurents..?
A. Yes, its human nature
B. Often , some seats are more comfortable
C. I usually make sure the viewing angle is comfortable
D. No, the atmosphere is more important
Q.8)Your best friend is sick,and they need you
around. Youre also invited to a party. You..
A. Go to the party, only doctors can help them
B. Stay with them for little,then go to the party
C. Go to the party for a little, then stay with the friend
D. Stay with my friend
Q.9 ) Do you pressure/manipulate
people to get your way..?
A. Oh yes!its the best way to success..
B. Yeah usually in a funny way
C. At times if I want something badly
D. I dont know, maybe with no intention
Q.10 ) Do people call you selfish..?
A. Yes and I am proud of it.!
B. None of your business
C. Every now and then, Every body is little selfish
D. No, I never Heard them
0-60 Points
Unselfish
You are a generous, caring , considerate person
You are always thinking of other persons need
I see you doing great for the world
Just make sure to get your ways sometimes
Give it a try, Its a good method to keep your confidence and self
esteem high
70-150 Points
Perfect Mix!
You are kind to others but you also think about whats good for your
health and happiness
Youre Quite balanced between selfish and a pushover
If something is importan to you, you try hard to get it! In my opinion
its the best way to go so keep it up
160-240
Selfish.!
You usually put your own needs first
If you dont take care of yourself who will?
Perhaps its a good philosophy to have but it wouldnt hurt you to be
little bit more caring and giving
Think about others too,if you want to build or maintain an strong
relationships
250-300 points
SHARK!
You only care about yourself.
You look down your nose at people who dont live upto your
standards
The only reason you do something nice is to make you feel better
Yeah, its you,all the time! The truth is, its not all about you,and it
never will be
