Selfishness: A misunderstood Reality
Word Count: 1944
Selfishness: A Misunderstood Reality Who is to say whether someone should or should not be selfish? Many people will say it is wrong to be selfish, but where does this notion come from, and why should we care? Two very distinctive views of selfishness are shown in the essay’s “The unselfishness Trap” by Harry Browne and “The Objective Basis of Morality” by Thomas Nagel. Harry Browne would say that if everyone sacrificed their own happiness for someone else. On the other hand, Thomas Nagel would object to Harry Browne’s theory claiming that a direct concern for others should be the basis of our morality. In the two different theories of selfishness, Browne addresses, in his opinion, the best way to make people happy, whereas Nagel discusses how people’s concern for others should be a moral basis. Many people would say that being selfish is evil. They would also generally agree that being selfless is a good focus goal for the future. Selfish people are often stereotyped as horrible swine or people who would stop at nothing to get what they want.1 Selfishness, by definition, is to be primarily concerned with ones own interests. If this is true, that would make everybody on earth a selfish being. Selfishness has earned a negative connotation, altering its real denotation. Selfishness cannot be declared right or wrong, it’s merely a term to describe care for ourselves.
Selfishness is the key to happiness. That’s the answer someone would receive if they were to ask Harry Browne on his approach to selfishness. At first glance, most people would be opposed and reject this theory. Most people would believe that selflessness and concern about others before oneself is key to overall happiness. Browne sees this theory as the “Unselfishness Trap,” which is where people are led to believe they must sacrifice their own happiness for someone else. Browne see’s happiness as a big rubber ball, and “when [someone] has the ball in [their] hands . . .
Selfishness: A Misunderstood Reality Who is to say whether someone should or should not be selfish? Many people will say it is wrong to be selfish, but where does this notion come from, and why should we care? Two very distinctive views of selfishness are shown in the essay’s “The unselfishness Trap” by Harry Browne and “The Objective Basis of Morality” by Thomas Nagel. Harry Browne would say that if everyone sacrificed their own happiness for someone else. On the other hand, Thomas Nagel would object to Harry Browne’s theory claiming that a direct concern for others should be the basis of our morality. In the two different theories of selfishness, Browne addresses, in his opinion, the best way to make people happy, whereas Nagel discusses how people’s concern for others should be a moral basis. Many people would say that being selfish is evil. They would also generally agree that being selfless is a good focus goal for the future. Selfish people are often stereotyped as horrible swine or people who would stop at nothing to get what they want.1 Selfishness, by definition, is to be primarily concerned with ones own interests. If this is true, that would make everybody on earth a selfish being. Selfishness has earned a negative connotation, altering its real denotation. Selfishness cannot be declared right or wrong, it’s merely a term to describe care for ourselves.
Selfishness is the key to happiness. That’s the answer someone would receive if they were to ask Harry Browne on his approach to selfishness. At first glance, most people would be opposed and reject this theory. Most people would believe that selflessness and concern about others before oneself is key to overall happiness. Browne sees this theory as the “Unselfishness Trap,” which is where people are led to believe they must sacrifice their own happiness for someone else. Browne see’s happiness as a big rubber ball, and “when [someone] has the ball in [their] hands . . .