My first dabbling in philosophy was through the philosopher Ayn Rand for a college scholarship. She talked a lot on the conflict between the two concepts of Altruism and Selfishness. She claimed that it human nature that humans were selfish individuals, and she extolled this concept, claiming that mankind has become too altruistic and because of that we are worsening humankind by putting others welfare before one's own, neglecting ones own soul for the sake of others. She also said many other controvertial things, but she, in my own opinion, has at least a shred of truth in her philosophy in that Humankind is innately selfish and that society and humanity clash because of this.
Altruism is put down by her though and that this concept damages humanity. But is it really wrong putting others in front of oneself every once in a while? How can one justify altruism if ones nature is selfish?
I believe that the majority of things humans do are done to advance their lives. this is individualistic, but not neccesarily selfish because when the advancement of your life comes forth with the advancement of other i believe you do in fact put others before yourself while still doing what you do for yourself.
ReplyDeletewith that being the way i live my life, if i was to be givin the option to put someone ahead of myslef and theirfore jeapordize myself. i would not do it. to me, the act of putting other before yourself when damage is done to yourself is in fact destructive to you and humankind because if anything destroys you, you can no longer help society.